Court Denies Lawyer Bail, Remands Her For Allegedly Ass@ulting Minor House-help
The Children, Se-xual and Gender-Based Viole-nce Court, sitting at the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Awka, has remanded the self acclaimed lawyer, Adachukwu Okafor, at the State Criminal and Investigative Department Custody in Awka
for allegedly inflicting physical injuries on the body of her 11-year-old House-help.
Adachukwu Okafor who resides at Chris Igwilo street Akapka GRA, 3-3 Onitsha, of Anambra State, was arraigned before the Children, Sex-ual and Gender-Based Vio-lence Court, Awka, on Wednesday, February, 21, 2024, on a-two count charge, bordering on willful infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor, an offence punishable under Section 4(1) of the Vi-olence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 2017.
The charge was read and interpreted to the defendant to the satisfaction of the Court; and the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, bail application was made by the defendant council Chijioke Nwankwo as bail was denied by the court and matter adjourned to 28th February, 2024 for ruling.
Speaking to journalists after the Court’s session, the defendant council Barrister Chijioke Nwankwo when asked why it took his client time to report to the police stated that he was not aware of any bounty placed on Adachukwu explaining that he was only contacted for the job of which he immediately took the defendant to the police immediately.
He also alleged that the state ministry of women and social welfare is already doing trial by ordeal, which he noted is not in the best interest of the case.
The victim, an eleven year old survivor, had since been discharged from the hospital and made appearance in court too.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Anambra State, Hon. Ify Obinabo stated that she trusts the court to do justice to the matter.
The Women Affairs Commissioner also revealed that her Ministry would soon embark on media sensitization programme, during which ndị Anambra would be educated and fully enlightened about the dangers and negative consequences of child abuse.
The Commissioner urged members of the public to shun all forms of social vices in the society, especially, those vices that endanger the life of a child; and called on everyone to be agents of positive social change.
