Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A Civil Rights group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN); has petitioned the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); and Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State; over alleged defilement of a 14-year-old girl (name withheld).
In the petition signed by the President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo Esq, entitled: “Appeal for Justice: Defilement of 14 yeàr old girl,… Since 2019, by the Husband of her boss and his friend,” the group demanded for thorough investigation and appropriate justice.
The letter reads in part: “We write to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of Mrs. Chinwendu Ozioko, who informed us that she made a complaint in respect of the above mentioned matter to your office on Thursday the 25th January 2024, and that one of the suspects has already been invited and the matter is under investigation.
“Mrs. Chinwendu Ozioko, who works as a Traffic warden at the newly formed Enugu State Transport Management Authority, stated that she allowed her daughter to go and live with Mrs. Blessing Nnaike, her schoolmate at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) sometimes in 2019, when she gave birth to a baby and since then her child lived with her till Thursday 25th January 2024, when this matter was reported to NAPTIP.
“The summary of the complaint according to Mrs. Ozioko, is that since her child started living with the family at their home at Thinkers’ Corner, Emene, Old Road, Enugu, they don’t allow the child to visit her and any time she called Mrs. Nnaike she will always say the child was okay until Thursday 25th January 2024, when the child got a phone while the Nnaikes’ family had gone to work and called her mother and explained to her how she has not been going to school for some time and how the husband of her mistress, Mr. Charles Nnaike, has consistently raped her over the years.
“She started abusing the child while the child was in primary 6. And anytime she said no, Charles would squeeze her hand beat her up and tell her that “not after paying your school fees you will not allow me to enjoy myself.”
“According to Mrs. Ozioko, her child also narrated how Charles forced one of his friends to sleep with her and made video of them and told the child that if she said anything to anybody he will post the video on internet.
“The child further stated that a fortnight ago Charles tried to rape her again and she screamed loud so that somebody will hear them fortunately her auntie’s daughter heard her crying and shouting and told her mom.
“When Mrs. Blessing Nnaike, asked the child and she told her that her husband used to rape her almost every day. She thereafter told the child that she must not say it outside and she must not let her mother know, if not she will kill her and bury her and nobody will come for her, and that she’s a witch, that she’s the one seducing her husband and want to collect her husband from her and ruin her marriage; and she stripped her naked and flogged her.”
The group said it condemned “the barbaric acts of Charles Nnaike and his friend and urge you to ensure that no stone is left unturned until Justice is done in respect of this case as its circumstances demands.”
CRRAN described the action as “a grave infraction on the rights of a Nigerian child.”
The civil rights group went further to draw the attention of the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, to the matter citing violation of the rights of the Child.
“We bring the above for your information and necessary action.
“We urge Your Excellency to ensure that all concerned authorities take urgent necessary actions to ensure that the case is promptly, impartially and effectively investigated to ensure that the perpetrators are punished according to the law and the victim accorded justice including adequate medical care and reparation,” Omotayo said.
