Alleged cruelty to minor: Court adjourns until Oct. 26 for housewife to open her defence

Justice Peter Kekemeke of an FCT High Court, Maitama on Tuesday adjourned until Oct. 26 for a housewife, Mrs Esther Nwatu, to open her defence in an alleged case of cruelty to a minor.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the defence counsel, Mr Pius Ezema told the court that parties including the victim’s father asked for the case to be discontinued.

He added that this was communicated to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Ezema said that he was surprised to be served with a letter from the Director-General of NAPTIP directing that the case should continue.

He therefore prayed the court to grant him an adjournment to put the defendant through because the defendant’s little child was ill.

The prosecution counsel, Mrs Comfort Ajene did not oppose the prayer in the interest of justice.

Our correspondent reports that the judge had on May ordered that the victim’s parents, Mr and Mrs Lazarus Ogbonna from Enugu State, should have access to their child.

The victim’s parents, made a passionate appeal to the court to grant their request because they had not seen their child for seven years.

The judge said that the parents of the victim must have access to their child and also know what was going on with her and issue.

Our correspondent reports that NAPTIP later brought the victim to the court and she met with her parents.

NAPTIP alleged in its submission before the court that on or about July 7, 2016, a-14-year-old girl was beaten and injured by her “madam”, Nwatu in Orozo, Abuja.

It further alleged that Nwatu stripped the girl naked, tied her hands and legs, and flogged her with an electric wire.

The prosecution said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 2(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge.