By; KELVIN OKPARA, Enugu .
A human rights group, Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned the South East Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state over the alleged defilement of a fourteen year old girl by husband to her mistress, Mr. Charles Nnaike and his friend in Enugu, appealing to them to use their good offices in ensuring that justice is done on the matter.
In the petition signed by its president, Barr. Olu Omotayo, and made available to New Nigerian on Monday in Enugu.condemned the unholy act in all it’s entirety, describing it as barbaric.
It said, “we condemn 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.
“This is a grave infraction on the rights of a Nigerian child, stressing that the governor’s intervention became necessary in view of the priority given to the rights of children by this government, we bring the above for your information ad 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,” it said
The petition is titled, “RE : Appeal for Justice: Defilement of 14 year old girl, since 2019 by the husband of her boss and his friend”.
It said, “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 suspect has already been invited and the matter is under investigation.”
CRRAN, said, “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) sometime in 2019, when she gave birth to a baby, and since then, her child lived with her till Thursday January 25, 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 her to visit us, and any time I called Mrs. Nnaike, she will always says my daughter 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.
“He started abusing the child while she 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 friend 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 disclosed 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 that she must not let her mother know, if not, she will kill her and bury her and nobody will come for her.
“Mrs. Nnaike, started accusing the girl of being a witch, and that she has been the one seducing her husband and want to collect her husband from her and ruin her marriage; after which she stripped her naked and flogged the girl mercilessly.”
