A woman, whose 12-year-old daughter was tortured by her guardian, has given up the fight for justice. The woman, Ebere Nwamba, blamed poverty as part of the reasons for abandoning the case, which she had pursued for quite sometime now. Her child, Ifunanya, was allegedly brutalised by her guardian, simply identified as, Godrick, for failing to wash the top of her Toyota Sienna bus.
The girl was said to have explained to her that her hands could not reach the top of the vehicle because of her height but she failed to see reasons with her. Godrick allegedly battered her, leaving her with injuries in all parts of her body, including her mouth.
The bubble burst, however, when Ifunnaya went to her school, Adeniyi Jones Primary School, the next day and one of her classmates drew attention of her plight to their teacher. This did not go down well with management of the school as it petitioned the Nigeria Police, over the assault on one of its pupils.
It didn’t stop there, the school was also said to have written petitions to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Social Welfare and Guidance and Counseling Unit, over the child abuse. Part of the petition reads: “The management of Adeniyi Jones Primary School hereby petitions the police command, on the assault on one of our pupils, Miss lfunanya Nwamba. The girl claimed that she had always been beaten with pestle, horsewhip, pipes and wood that contain nails, by her guardian.”
The school further alleged that torture of its pupils had become a recurring incident in the last two years.
Following the petition, Godrick was arrested by the police and the case being investigated by the Human Rights Department of the police. It was the same department that charged her to court on a two-count charge of alleged assault and causing grievous bodily harm on Ifunanya. The suspect was, however, granted bail in the sum of N100,000 after she pleaded not guilty while the matter was adjourned to another date.
But the case took a dramatic turn when the mother of the victim, who had been crying for justice, begged the school management for an out of court settlement. Giving reasons for her action, she said: “I lack the means of transportation to court on each adjournment. This case has suffered many setbacks.” She disclosed that transportation from Enugu State to Lagos was burdensome to her. “I would prefer to take my daughter back home and accept the offer of N20,000, being presented to me by the woman, who assaulted my daughter,” she said.
A Probation Officer, attached to the School’s social work unit, Mr. Kelani Tolu said: “The victim had been interviewed on several occasions and she kept saying she would like to live in Enugu State, with her biological mother to continue her education.” He said the victim’s mother had also agreed to take her to Enugu to send her to school. “The defendant has agreed to give N10,000 to the victim, another N10,000 for her mother’s transportation back to Enugu and additional N10,000 for her up-keep.”
Consequently, the Magistrate Court 6, Ikeja, presided over by Magistrate Mrs. Oshiniyi, struck out the case.
The girl was said to have explained to her that her hands could not reach the top of the vehicle because of her height but she failed to see reasons with her. Godrick allegedly battered her, leaving her with injuries in all parts of her body, including her mouth.
The bubble burst, however, when Ifunnaya went to her school, Adeniyi Jones Primary School, the next day and one of her classmates drew attention of her plight to their teacher. This did not go down well with management of the school as it petitioned the Nigeria Police, over the assault on one of its pupils.
It didn’t stop there, the school was also said to have written petitions to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Social Welfare and Guidance and Counseling Unit, over the child abuse. Part of the petition reads: “The management of Adeniyi Jones Primary School hereby petitions the police command, on the assault on one of our pupils, Miss lfunanya Nwamba. The girl claimed that she had always been beaten with pestle, horsewhip, pipes and wood that contain nails, by her guardian.”
The school further alleged that torture of its pupils had become a recurring incident in the last two years.
Following the petition, Godrick was arrested by the police and the case being investigated by the Human Rights Department of the police. It was the same department that charged her to court on a two-count charge of alleged assault and causing grievous bodily harm on Ifunanya. The suspect was, however, granted bail in the sum of N100,000 after she pleaded not guilty while the matter was adjourned to another date.
But the case took a dramatic turn when the mother of the victim, who had been crying for justice, begged the school management for an out of court settlement. Giving reasons for her action, she said: “I lack the means of transportation to court on each adjournment. This case has suffered many setbacks.” She disclosed that transportation from Enugu State to Lagos was burdensome to her. “I would prefer to take my daughter back home and accept the offer of N20,000, being presented to me by the woman, who assaulted my daughter,” she said.
A Probation Officer, attached to the School’s social work unit, Mr. Kelani Tolu said: “The victim had been interviewed on several occasions and she kept saying she would like to live in Enugu State, with her biological mother to continue her education.” He said the victim’s mother had also agreed to take her to Enugu to send her to school. “The defendant has agreed to give N10,000 to the victim, another N10,000 for her mother’s transportation back to Enugu and additional N10,000 for her up-keep.”
Consequently, the Magistrate Court 6, Ikeja, presided over by Magistrate Mrs. Oshiniyi, struck out the case.
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