Court remands lawyer for ‘inflicting physical injuries on minor’ in Anambra

The children, sexual and gender-based violence court in Akwa, has ordered the remand of Adachukwu Okafor, a lawyer, for allegedly maltreating her 11-year-old house help.

In a statement on Wednesday, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, media aide to Ify Obinabo, commissioner for women and social welfare in Anambra, said the lawyer inflicted bodily injuries on the minor.

The house help who started living with the lawyer in January was seen in a trending video with iron-stamp burns all over her body.

Okafor was said to have used a broken bottle, knife, and electric iron to inflict injuries on the house help for allegedly touching her daughter.

Reacting to the incident, Uju Kennedy, minister of women affairs, placed a bounty of N2 million on the Anambra-based lawyer.

The lawyer later reported at the police station after about one month in hiding.

Ikeanyionwu said Okafor was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on willful infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor, her house help.

She said the offence contravenes section 4(1) of the violence against persons (prohibition and protection) laws of Anambra state of Nigeria 2017.

During the trial, the lawyer pleaded not guilty to the charges and sought a bail application which was denied by the judge.

Speaking with journalists after the trial, Chijioke Nwankwo, counsel to the defendant, said he was not aware of any bounty placed on Adachukwu and order to report at the police.

Nwankwo said he was only contacted for the job and immediately took the defendant to the police.

He said state ministry of women and social welfare was already doing trial by ordeal, adding that it was not in the best interest of the case.

On her part, the commissioner said the state would soon commence media sensitisation programme to educate members of the public on the negative impact of child abuse.

She said the minor had been discharged from the hospital and urged citizens to shun vices that could endanger the lives of children.

The case was adjourned till February 28 for ruling.