In this second part of the chronicle of 10-year-old Kosarachi, who was trafficked into domestic servitude and suffered bodily harm inflicted by her fleeing madam, Ifeoma Okoye, JULIANA FRANCIS visits the Christ Holy Church International in Festac axis of Lagos State, where the woman worships, probing reasons for the church’s refusal to hand Okoye to the police for prosecution.
Mrs Ifeoma Okoye woke up about two years ago and decided that she needed a domestic servant. Some witnesses claimed Okoye said that she was often bored and lonely in the house, and desperately needed, not just a companion, but also a chat partner.
Okoye’s situation is relatable since she was said to live alone, with most of her children living overseas. It was gathered she has a daughter who lives in the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State with her father and visits her occasionally. Okoye, a businesswoman, decided to employ a minor as her “domestic servant” or “gist companion.”
How Okoye got in touch with Gift in Imo State and convinced her to hand over Kosarachi as a domestic servant is still hazy.
Our reporter was able to get Okoye’s two phone numbers, determined to find out from her, what led to her employing a child as a domestic servant, depriving that child of basic education, and then continually torturing the child. However, the several moves to get her online were futile.
The first phone number: 07089598340, was switched off, while the second phone number 09069690575 was picked up after several attempts. The True caller on the second phone number displayed: “ROSEMARY OKOYE.”
The call was picked, but the receiver decided to play a deep-breathing game. After a repeated shout of hello by the reporter, the deep breathing stopped. The receiver, apparently a female by the sound of her voice, asked: “Who are you?” When the reporter asked if she was speaking with Ifeoma Okoye, the receiver did not say anything and also did not hang up and the time kept ticking, with airtime wasting.
It will be recalled that sources disclosed that Okoye was hiding somewhere in Rivers State, and planning to escape overseas where she has relatives to evade justice.
On Saturday, November 2, 2024, our reporter made a beeline for the Christ Holy Church International in Festac. The church, located at the end of 322 Road Festac, is behind the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
There were two security guards at the church’s gate. One was in a mufti, and the second was in uniform, with a badge proudly proclaiming: “Grandway Security Guard.” The guard, who was in mufti displayed hostility following the introduction and request by the reporter to see the pastor in charge of the church or the church’s Public Relations Officer. The guard in uniform, after interrogating the reporter and wondering aloud if he and his colleague were already secretly recorded, asked the reporter to wait.
He left and it was assumed he went to tell whoever was in charge that a reporter was in the church premises. Some minutes later, he returned to claim that none of the pastors were available. He said that all the pastors had gone for social activities in the church’s other branches. According to him, this was the norm on most Saturdays among the church pastors. He added: “The church closed two hours ago before your arrival. You may have to come back.”
The reporter asked for a piece of paper, where she dropped her phone number and further stated her reasons for the visit, which had to do with the maltreatment of a minor, leading to bodily harm and the church’s seemingly shielding of the perpetrator. The reporter asked that the pastor or the church’s PRO should get back to her. The reporter left.
Some minutes after the reporter left the church, while she was still walking down 322 Road, her phone rang, it was the church’s lawyer. He introduced himself as Barrister Chiemezie Peter. True caller displayed: “Barrister Ahamefule Chiemezie Nwadike Peter.”
The discussion that followed between the reporter and the barrister was more of a shouting competition, outrage on both sides for opposing reasons, and then finally, resignation and acceptance that both divides will not see eye to eye concerning the subject matter in focus.
The Barrister repeatedly evaded questions about why the church failed to do the needful by handing over Okoye to the police for prosecution seeing she had committed an offence as enshrined in the Lagos State Child Rights Act. Peter maintained that the matter was a church issue and should be resolved by the church. He also threatened to sue the reporter if she wrote anything concerning the church, stressing that the reporter was simply out to malign the church.
According to him, what happened to Kosarachi was now “immaterial” because a greater felonious offence of “murder” had been uncovered during the investigation of the child abuse case. He explained that the Nwekes, earlier mentioned in Part 1 of this report, who are a couple from Rivers State, claiming Kosarachi as their stolen daughter, were recognised by the Chikodis. The Chikodis are a couple from Imo State and are the known parents of Kosarachi. Both came from outside of Lagos State and both families recognised one another at Festac Police Station, where they were invited for questioning.
While the Chikodis are being assisted by Christ Holy Church International, the Nwekes are being assisted by NGOs who said they are interested in the truth and justice for Kosarachi. Recall that Mrs Chikodi and Okoye attend the same Christ Holy Church International, with one attending the Lagos branch, and the other attending the Imo State branch. It was after the Chikodis and Nwekes looked at each other in shocking recognition at the Festac Police Station that a story emerged.
It was claimed that Mr. Nweke killed someone and bolted from Rivers State, went into hiding. The other party also claimed that Mr. Chikodi killed someone and went into hiding. Accusations and counter-accusations kept flying. However, the crux of the current case is that both claims to be parents of Kosarachi.
While concerned NGOs in this ongoing case are stressing that child labour, child trafficking and child physical abuse should not be pushed aside for anything, they all agreed that it was equally important to find out the true biological parents of Kosarachi. Both parties were instructed by the police to go and get documents, birth certificates and pictures to prove the paternity of Kosarachi. Thus began the battle for custody of Kosarachi.
Barrister Peter, who called the reporter after she left the church premises further urged her to make herself available at the Festac Police Station on November 6, 2024. This was after threatening the reporter. His conversation with the reporter is reproduced below:
Lawyer: I was just called now that you came to the Christ Holy Church International in Festac.
Reporter: Yes sir.
Lawyer: And then you dropped a note, phone number. What do you want and what is the problem?
Reporter: Who am I speaking with?
Lawyer: This is Barrister Chimeize Peter, the legal representative of the church.
Reporter: Okay. Nice to hear from you, sir.
Lawyer: We were at the Festac Police Station yesterday.
Reporter: Okay. You were with them at the Festac Police Station yesterday?
Lawyer: Before we got there, I told my church members that the claimant (Nweke) of the child in question would not be there.
Reporter: Anyway, the reason I went to the church, I wanted to see the Bishop because of some allegations that have been flying around. One is that a church member, Ifeoma Okoye, brutalised a little girl staying with her and the church did not hand Ifeoma over to the police. Then secondly, according to Kosorachi, the Bishop’s driver, Stanley, took her and Ifeoma Okoye to Owerri. I assumed anyway that it was from there this woman bolted because now everyone is looking for her. I want to hear from the church because there are always two sides to a story.
Lawyer: Whatever information you need can be provided by me. The matter is under investigation. Some people came up…one Revered Sister came up with some people that they were the biological parents of the girl. The man (Nweke) involved happens to be from the same family, the same kindred as the real father (Mr. Chikodi) of the girl. The mother is in Lagos now. The mother has been at the police station with her daughter. The husband (Mr. Chikodi) is in Lagos now. The story he gave us yesterday showed that that person (Nweke) claiming the child was involved in the killing of his elder brother, who is still in the mortuary since 2012. They went to bury in 2016, which was based on when police gave them a letter to go and bury. They were attacked in that very 2016 by the same people who killed the brother. Are you getting me? They destroyed their house. It’s a matter that the police will investigate more. The guy (Nweke) has been at large. Surfacing in Lagos and claiming the child of somebody who is a victim of his attacks.
Reporter: So, who is claiming who? Who is the victim?
Lawyer: The matter is somehow. I told them yesterday, our church members… This person (Nweke) who is claiming the child did not come to the police station yesterday. He knows that the man (Chikodi) will come, so he (Nweke) will not come. They have been looking for him (Nweke). He has been at large.
Reporter: So what you are saying is that the person…
Lawyer: Are you getting me? The person that committed the…. Some of the people that committed the offence with him were arrested, detained and prosecuted. One of them is still in detention. So that day they were at the police station, and the real father (Chikodi) of the girl, whose brother is still in the mortuary, was telling the police people that they should detain that man (Nweke) there. They should not allow him to go. They allowed him to go.
Reporter: So, but….
Lawyer: Even when we raised it yesterday, the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) said he was not aware, if they brought it to his knowledge, he would have detained him.
Reporter: Okay, so either way, there’s a problem here. Isn’t it?
Lawyer: There is a very serious problem. Somebody was killed because of land matter.
Reporter: These people are fighting over land, but I’m interested in….
Lawyer: It’s over land. They killed the other brother, whose corpse is still in the mortuary. He has not been buried.
Reporter: But my own… I’m concerned about a child… Child protection…
Lawyer: The person (Nweke) claiming the child is not even married…
Reporter: Okay, who is not married?
Lawyer: The person (Nweke) claiming the child now. As the mother brought the child back to Festac Police Station, the person claiming the child is not married.
Reporter: Is it a woman or a man that is claiming the child?
Lawyer: He’s a tailor, he is on the run.
Reporter: Okay, the tailor that killed somebody is trying to claim the child?
Lawyer: Yes.
Reporter: Now, where is Ifeoma Okoye? Why did the church shield her instead of handing her over to the police?
Lawyer: Listen! Listen, my sister, you heard it from a wrong perspective.
Reporter: Okay.
Lawyer: The child was… they were having a programme in the church. And then that child was seen sitting lonely and quiet. Then she was approached and asked what happened. She explained her ordeal to the person who confronted her, who then took her to the evangelist of the church there. And then they narrated everything. Then they took her to the Bishop in the church. The members of the church were annoyed with the woman over the maltreatment of the child. They started questioning her, asking her how she got the child. Who is the father or the parents of the child? The way things went is that the parents of the child are members of the Christ Holy Church International. The parents of the child are in Festac now. I was with them yesterday at the police station. They are members of the Christ Holy Church International. Do you understand what I am saying? The woman (Ifeoma Okoye) who took the child from Owerri, is resident in Lagos, that is Ifeoma Okoye, she is a member of the Christ Holy Church International. Are you getting me? She took the child for the child assisting her, as she was feeling lonely. Her children had grown up and they are overseas. Are you getting me?
Reporter: I got it! I got it!
Lawyer: So, the grandmother of that very girl, who is a mother in the Christ Holy Church International…they knew themselves very well. They pleaded with the parents of the girl to release the girl. Even the father told me yesterday that when they came, he refused. But based on being that the mother of the man was involved, he allowed it, not knowing that the woman would maltreat the child. What the church did, is that what the church ought to do! When they realised that, they had to call the bishop in charge of the Owerri branch. And told him about it. He said the child should be brought to Owerri, the parents would come and carry the child. And that was what happened.
Reporter: So why didn’t they (Christ Holy Church International) hand Ifeoma Okoye to Festac Police Station? She brutalised the child!
Lawyer: Why should they hand her over to the Festac Police Station? When the lady is a member of the church!
Reporter: Sir! Wait! Wait!
Lawyer: Wait! Listen to me, please! The lady (Ifeoma Okoye) is a member of the Christ Holy Church International that took the child. The parents of Kosarachi are members of the Christ Holy Church International. Then the grandmother or the grandparents of the girl are members of the Christ Holy Church International, from their village in Etche. They are also in the maternal home at Nogor-Okpala (a local government in Imo State). The people are presently residing at Ngor-Okpala because of what happened in their village, they wanted to kill all of them, but they ran away. They are staying in their in-laws at Ngor-Okpala. What else do you want to hear? The matter is still under investigation
Reporter: You are supposed to advise people like us…
Lawyer: We discussed with the DPO yesterday and another date was fixed; the 6th of this month…So the Revered Sister was instructed to produce the claimant (Nweke) of the child that they should be there. So, if you want anything come to Festac Police Station by 10am on the 6th, which is Wednesday.
Reporter: Okay sir! Okay sir!
Lawyer: Don’t go to the church to make inquiries based on false information given to you people.
Reporter: I just asked a simple question… You are a lawyer, and you know the Child Rights Law…
Lawyer: False information given to you people… What is the bid of trying to bring the church to disrepute? Why are you after the church?
Reporter: Why are you only concerned about the church? We are concerned about the child! The Child Rights Law…
Lawyer: The child’s parents are alive. Even this issue now led to the grandmother to die a few days ago because she was angry with the woman that she entrusted with the grandchild.
Reporter: So the grandmother is dead now?
Lawyer: The woman (Ifeoma Okoye), according to the… after taking the child to Owerri, she said she was going to Port Harcourt to see the sister. So she has been in Rivers State according to… even the church (Christ Holy Church International) gave the police money to track her. They said she was somewhere at Omoku. Why is the name of the church being maligned? For what?
Reporter: Nobody is interested in the church…
Lawyer: You people are interested in maligning the name of the church.
Reporter: Why? What will anybody gain from that?
Lawyer: The way you’re going about with the false information you have…
Reporter: I have a church too now. If I’m going with the false information, would I come here (Christ Holy Church International)?
Lawyer: There are many things to it. A murder case is involved…
Reporter: I came because that is what I’m supposed to do…
Lawyer: Have You heard me? I said a murder case is involved. The person claiming the child is brought by the Revered Sister. He’s a felon that has been at large. Are you content with that?
Reporter: The law… The question I’m asking is why did the Child Rights Law…
Lawyer: You are not supposed to ask that question, please! You are not supposed to ask that question!
Reporter: Are you supposed to tell me questions to ask…
Lawyer: Something happened in the Christ Holy Church International and they handled it in the church way. You are not asking questions of why we didn’t report to the police. What do you mean?
Reporter: Sir, you are not supposed to tell me what to ask you. I’m a journalist. I’m supposed to ask you…
Lawyer: You are a journalist! I’ve answered your question!
Reporter: You didn’t answer my question on why Ifeoma was not handed…
Lawyer: I’ve answered your question. If you don’t… Your question is that the whole people involved are members of the Christ Holy Church International. And when the church discovered what the woman did, they were annoyed with the woman. They had to call and inquire from her how she got the child. She said the child belonged to a member of the Christ Holy Church International in Owerri
Reporter: Was that why they didn’t hand her over to the police?
Lawyer: That’s why they contacted the branch at Owerri to get to the parents of the girl. So the child was taken back to the parents. When the police requested that the child be brought to Lagos, the mother of the girl brought her to Lagos. Then the Reverend Sister brought up somebody. The Reverend Sister is instigating this matter because she heard that it is a Catholic Church, which is not a Roman Catholic church. Then she wants to bring the church to disrepute. Then she went ahead and started broadcasting all kinds of lies. Yesterday, she was shivering!
Reporter: So we are not going to talk about the fact that this girl was covered in wounds?
Lawyer: That one you are raising is immaterial! There are more things to it. I’ve told you that a murder is involved!
Reporter: What I’m raising is immaterial?
Lawyer: What you are raising now is immaterial because it’s a minor issue as far as the major issue, which is murder, is a capital offence.
Reporter: A child was brutalised by a woman is an immaterial matter?
Lawyer: That is under investigation up to Abuja. Are you hearing me?
Reporter: I’ve been listening to you…
Lawyer: The question you are putting there is immaterial! It’s not relevant in respect of the bigger issue at hand. Somebody, a felon, tried to exterminate a family. Now he’s turning around to claim… even the first son of the man, he’s also claiming him. Are you getting what I’m saying? The issue like he couldn’t get the man to kill him, so let’s get his children.
Reporter: So the man wants to claim the child, and then will go to kill her?
Lawyer: You don’t understand what I’m telling you now. I said somebody died in 2012 of the atrocity of the claimant and his conspirators. Then the police allowed the person to be buried in 2016. While trying to get the person buried, they attacked the family again. Are you not listening to it?
Reporter: I listened to everything you say but I’m still asking…
Lawyer: Then listen to it! Then we’ll work with that. Come to the police station on the 6th.
Reporter: I should come to the police station on the 6th.
Lawyer: And see what will happen there. If they will come… I told them they (Nweke) will not come…As he is aware now that the man (Chikodi) is in Lagos. He will not come! They even destroyed the Catholic Church in their village. The same people, because of the land matter.
Reporter: So where is Ifeoma Okoye now? Where is Ifeoma Okoye?
Lawyer: We don’t know. The police can get her. They’ve been given money to track her. Let them get her, but trying to bring the name of the church to disrepute, they should stop it! Any rubbish publication you make, your this thing (media organisation) will pay for it because they will be sued!
Reporter: You are even threatening me. You don’t need it my bother…
Lawyer: I’m threatening you. Yes! So that you don’t publish rubbish. That is why I said come to the police station on the 6th. By 10am.
Reporter: Your threats will not stop me from doing my job! Even if we go to court, is it not human beings that go to court? Is it spirits? You shouldn’t be threatening me.
Lawyer: It is your company that will pay damages.
Reporter: The woman brutalised a child…
Lawyer: When your company pay damages, they will deduct it from your salary…
Reporter: I’m not scared, something must kill someone!
Lawyer: But it will kill your company. You are not scared. I know you are making millions because of that you are not scared.
Reporter: I’m not scared! I have been a journalist for a while. I know the law!
Lawyer: You’ve been long on the work…
Reporter: I know the Child Rights Law. Your church did something wrong. But we are not after the church. We are after Kosarachi. Have you looked at her body? Have you looked at her head? Have you seen her tooth? How the woman use ringed fingers to break her tooth?
Lawyer: Forget about that! That was what prompted the church to act against the women.
Reporter: They didn’t hand her over to the police to be prosecuted. You are now telling me that you are going to sue me?
Lawyer: To prosecute the woman and to get the child back to the biological parents, which one is better?
Reporter: Is it not the church that carried the woman to Owerri?
Lawyer: The church that took the woman to Owerri, do they know the parents of the woman? Is it not the woman that will lead them to locate the parents of the child?
Reporter: The church is supposed to hand her over to the police and let the police do their job.
Lawyer: Forget about that. Don’t bring that your supposed… into the name of the church. If you do, you will not like it. Except if you didn’t disclose your name.
Reporter: My name is Juliana Francis.
Lawyer: I have seen it with True Caller already!
Reporter: Please write it down.
Lawyer: What is the name of your newspaper?
Reporter: Good. I work with The Eagle Online. Please write it down and follow up on it! Juliana Francis writes for it too. The Eagle Online newspaper. So that when the libel starts, you will drag me with The Eagle Online.
Lawyer: You have to provide the address so that you can be located. So don’t write rubbish.
Reporter: I will not write rubbish.
Lawyer: Come to the police station by Wednesday. You will see things like I said. So that you will be able to build up whatever you want to write. So come to the police station on the 6th by 10am.
Reporter: Thank you for your time.
Lawyer: Thank you also for your understanding.
To be continued.
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