A human rights organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), seeking justice for a 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly abused serially by the husband of her boss and his friend.
In the petition copied to the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, the group said the case was uncovered on Thursday, January 25.
Signed by the president of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, the petition reads: “We write to you in respect of the above mentioned matter, on behalf of Chinwendu Ozioko, who informed us that she made a complaint in respect of the above mentioned matter to your office on Thursday, January 25, 2024, and that one of the suspect has already been invited and the matter is under investigation.
“Ozioko, who works as a traffic warden at the newly formed Enugu State Transport Management Authority, said she allowed her daughter to go and live with Blessing Nnaike, her schoolmate at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), sometime in 2019.
“According to Ozioko, since her child began living with the family at their home at Thinkers’ Corner, Emene, Old Road, Enugu, they didn’t allow the girl to visit her (Ozioko). And any time she called Blessing, she would always say that the girl was okay until Thursday, January 25, when the girl, while the Nnaikes had gone to work, called her mother on a phone. She explained that she had not been going to school and that Charles, the husband of Blessing, consistently abused her over the years. Anytime she said no, Charles would squeeze her hand, beat her up, and tell her, ‘not after paying your school fees will you stop me from enjoying myself’.”
According to Ozioko, her daughter also narrated how Charles forced one of his friends to sleep with her and made a video of the act. He allegedly told the child that if she said anything to anyone, he would post the video on the internet
The girl said recently, Charles tried to abuse her again. But she screamed, hoping someone would hear. Blessing’s daughter heard her crying and shouting, and reported to her mother (Mrs. Nnaike).
“When Blessing inquired, the girl said Charles used to abuse her almost every day. She, thereafter, told the girl that she must not disclose the matter or let her mother know; otherwise, she would kill and bury her. She labelled the girl a witch, who was seducing her husband and wanting to snatch the man and ruin her marriage. She also stripped the girl naked and flogged her.”
The organisation, which condemned the action of Charles and his friend, urged the commission to ensure justice is done.
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