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Minister drags Enugu couple to court over defilement of 9-year-old daughter

Published

12 months ago

November 18, 2023

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs

Minister drags Enugu couple to court over defilement of 9-year-old daughter

MINISTER of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Ohanenye, instituted a suit against a couple, Mr Ifeanyi Enwelum and Mrs Christabel Enwelum on Thursday in Enugu over the breach of rights and defilement of their nine-year-old daughter.

Counsel to the minister, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor, told newsmen on Saturday in Enugu that the suit, number E/987/2023, was filed at the Enugu State High Court to enforce the fundamental rights of the minor.

It also sought to signpost a public interest matter to instil decency and morality.

Oguejiofor said the suit sought six prayers from the court.

“First, a declaration that the minor is entitled to respect for the dignity of her person and should not be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment by the respondents.

“Second, a declaration that Mr Enwelum’s carnal knowledge of the minor between Jan. 2022 and June 2023 constituted an infringement of her right to dignity.

“Third, a declaration that the respondents’ attempt at compromising and sweeping earlier charge, Number MEN/319C/2023 under the carpet, was against the law.

“That taking the minor to their residence, Number 13/15 Onoh Crescent GRA, Enugu to live with them as if nothing had happened constituted mental, emotional or psychological torture for the minor.

“We are also seeking an order of the court that the applicant in the person of the Minister of Women Affairs and the ministry take immediate custody of the minor and cater for her needs henceforth.

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“Fifth prayer is a court order restraining the respondents by themselves or through their agents or privies from having anything whatsoever to do with the minor till she reaches the age of 21 years.

“The sixth prayer is that respondents be made to pay N10 million damages jointly and severally,’’ Oguejiofor said.

Mr Enwelum, step-father of the minor, reportedly had several unlawful carnal knowledge of her between Jan. 1, 2022 and June 10, 2023 at his 13/15 Onoh Crescent, GRA Enugu residence in Enugu North Local Government Area.

The minor’s biological mother, Mrs Christabel Enwelum, was reported to be negligent as she did not protect her daughter from repeated penetration of her vagina.

The penetrations were confirmed by Dr Samuel Ndukwu, medical practitioner at the Nigerian Police clinic, Enugu.

A bail earlier granted Mr Enwelum by an Enugu Magistrate’s Court caused public outcry making the minister to query the rationale behind it.

The minister queried the rationale for the bail considering the nature of the crime and the spate of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the country, especially in Enugu State.

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At a news conference on Oct. 17, the minister said the ministry would take up legal action against the couple to ensure that the minor gets justice as well as serve as deterrent to others who might want to toe the same line.

“This minor has been molested severally by her stepfather who has deflowered her and given her diseases as confirmed at the hospital and by the lawyer and mother of the girl.

“The matter was taken to court, but unfortunately, a magistrate released the man on bail.

“We want to know why he was released in spite of grave allegations made against him simply because the minor’s mother cried that she did not want her husband to be jailed,’’ the minister told the October news conference.

“What about the voiceless girl? What about the torture and emotional pains the girl went through and threat not to disclose the molestation,’’? she queried.

“We are suing the woman for negligence. If she was not negligent, this girl would not have suffered this thing for a long time,’’ minister stressed.

Minister drags Enugu couple to court over defilement of 9-year-old daughter

(NAN)

Related Topics:defilement Enugu couple Minister

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

Published

9 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

metro

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

9 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

metro

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

Published

9 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.