A 32-year-old man, Chinyere Agoura, has been brought before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for torturing his housemaid. It was learnt that the seven-year-old housemaid, Munachi Ibeaka, is the daughter of one Mrs. Patricia Ibeaka. Patricia was said to have given out the girl to Agoura, her cousin, who lives in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State, sometime in 2013 to relieve the burden of fending for her family of four after her (Patricia) husband died. Both the defendant and the widow were arraigned by the police before the court’s magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja.
source learnt that Agoura had made life difficult for Munachi who he reportedly tortured at will. Our correspondent gathered that his neighbours were forced to report the alleged child abuse to the Ajeromi Police Station when the punishment began to tell on Munachi.
It was gathered that the girl’s face had become swollen as of the time the man and Patricia were arrested by the police. source also learnt that Agoura used to choke the girl with domestic chores and rarely allowed her to go to school. It was said that teachers had, on several occasions, complained to the maid’s boss about her absence in the school only to be told that she usually got ill.
A prosecutor, Soji Ojaokomo, preferred two counts bordering on child abuse against the defendants.
The charges read, “That you, Chinyere Agoura, a resident of Ajegunle and Patricia Ibeaka, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully abandon and expose seven-year-old Munachi to danger and caused her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 247 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, Chinyere Agoura, of the above named area, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did possess one Munachi as a slave or in servitude and entered into contract or agreement with one Patricia Ibeaka with or without consideration for doing so and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (9) and (10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The magistrate subsequently admitted them to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
“The sureties must be gainfully employed and be of blood relations with the defendants.
“They must also be residents within the state and their addresses must be verified by the court,” Adelaja added.
The case was adjourned till January 19, 2015.
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