- As Abuja father defiles 4-year-old daughter
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy- Ohanenye has announced that the federal government will institute a legal action against a couple, Ifeanyi and Christabel Ewuru, in Enugu over alleged sexual molestation and neglect of their eight-year-old daughter.
Making the disclosure while addressing the journalists in Abuja, the minister her ministry will file an action against the duo to ensure the survivor gets justice and serve as a deterrent to others who might want to tow the same line.
Ohanenye expressed deep concern over incessant sexual and gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, and other forms of abuse against women, children and the vulnerable.
“This eight-year-old girl has been molested severally by her stepfather, who has given her diseases and broken her walls, which has been confirmed in the hospital, also by the lawyer and mother of this girl. The matter was taken to court, but unfortunately, the magistrate released this man on bail.
“We want to know why he was released despite the allegations against him simply because the woman cried that she didn’t want her husband to be jailed. What about the voiceless girl? What about the torture, emotional pains the girl went through and threat not to disclose the molestation?” the minister explained.
She added, “We are suing the woman for negligence. Because if she was not negligent, this girl would not have suffered this thing for a long time. And this woman had the guts to defend the man who did this to your daughter simply because you want to keep the marriage or what, I don’t know.
“We are suing the man on behalf of the young girl to make sure he pays for his sin. The rule of law must prevail, The truth must prevail. Justice must be done on behalf of this young girl.”
According to Ms Ohanenye, the establishment of mobile courts will hasten the prosecution of SGBV and other harmful practices against women and children and ensure survivors get justice.
These are things that will make this girl feel better, and this will not affect her in future as it should have done if she sees for sure that actions were being taken. No more room for these things in this country. No more business as usual. You commit a crime; you go in for it.
“That is why we are still pleading to our president, attorney general and the chief judges in states to quickly approve the establishment of mobile courts so that it will enable us to accelerate matters concerning women’s affairs and quickly defend them,” said the minister.
Similarly, an Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, Mrs. Modupe Maduba told an FCT High Court in Kubwa, that a 35-year-old man, Onyebuchi Ezema, defiled his four-year-old daughter.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), charged Ezema, who resides in Zone 9, Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja, with assault to which he pleaded not guilty.
Maduba of the NAPTIP said this while being cross examined by the defence counsel, Opeyemi Adeyemi at the resumed trial of Onyebuchi Ezema.
During cross-examination, Adeyemi asked Maduba the time, date and place the defendant committed the said offence.
He further asked if Maduba knew where the defendant’s wife kept the victim the day it happened and if it was possible an unknown person penetrated her vagina.
The defence counsel also asked the investigator to describe where the defendant lived and if there was electricity on the day of the incident.
In response, Maduba said the incident happened on April, 15, 2020 at Lugbe Zone 6, at night.
“The defendant lives in a one bedroom self contained apartment with his son whom he sleeps with in same room alongside his wife and daughter (the victim).
“The defendant’s wife left her child with her cousin who lives in the same village, while she went to work on the said date,” she said.
The investigator added that she did not know if there was electricity on the day of the incident.
Adeyemi asked if the investigator discovered any blood stain on the minor in the course of her investigation and if a finger print examination was carried out on the child to confirm if it was the defendant’s finger.
The defence counsel asked the investigator to read out the medical report in court, if it stated that the defendant broke the victim’s hymen.
Maduba responded that she did not see any blood stain on the victim, no finger print examination was carried out and the medical report did not state whom broke the victim’s hymen.
Adeyemi, however, applied for a no-case submission to the court.
Following the defence counsel’s submission, Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf adjourned the matter until Dec.13 for adoption of the no-case submission.
NAN
