Members of the Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network have accused the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Festac Division of acting as jury and judge over child trafficking and paternity cases without carrying out a proper investigation.
The child in question is a 10-year-old girl identified as Kosarachi, alleged to have been given out as maid to Ifeoma Okoye, residing in Festac.
Okoye, who is now on the run, is alleged to be fond of beating her maid, who is a minor, leaving scars on her head and body.
The scarred body of the child was discovered during a church service at the Christ Holy Church International, located in Festac, Lagos State, by a member. The fleeing Okoye, who is a member of the church, was at the worship centre on that fateful day with Kosarachi.
A video, which captured the injuries on the child went viral, leading to many child protection organisations expressing anger and demanding justice for the child.
Also Read:
- Tax reform bills misunderstood, says Ogun gov Abiodun
- Gov. Namadi presents 2025 budget to Jigawa assembly
- Reps lament excessive checkpoints along Onitsha-Enugu Highway, seek reduction
- Kano employs 70 lawyers to bolster legal sector
- Confusion as armed security personnel take over Kano Emir’s palace
Among these organisations are Religious Sisters of Charity, ACVPN (comprising several organisations), Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC), Rights and Welfare of Traumatised Wives and Youths Initiative (RAWTWAYI), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency(DSVA), to mention but a few.
It was in the course of probing the case of physical abuse of the child, that another case of the child likely trafficked from the eastern part of Nigeria to Lagos State, came into question. Also, two couples are currently squabbling over the paternity of the child, both claiming to be her parents.
Child rights activists are insisting that aside from the Nigeria Police tracking and arresting Okoye to face the wrath of the law, the paternity of the child should be determined through Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
However, sources alleged that the DPO has concluded plans to hand the child over to one of the couples by Wednesday morning without carrying out DNA.
This planned action is not going down well with some nongovernmental organisations involved in child protection.
Section 57 of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State empowers the court to order the use of scientific tests including blood tests and DNA where paternity is an issue.
Also, Section 28 of the law is Child Labour and Prohibition of exploitative labour.
The Child’s Rights Act in Nigeria prohibits physical, mental, or emotional abuse, neglect, and maltreatment of children. In Lagos State, the policy prohibits corporal punishment in public and private schools.
Our reporter on November 2, 2024, reached out to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, to find out from the police the facts of the case and if truly the DPO planned to hand over the child to one of the couples without DNA to determine paternity.
He promised to reach out to the DPO and get back to the reporter. He, however, did not.
On November 3, 2024, our reporter called Hundeyin several times, but his phone line was constantly busy.
The last call, which was at past 5pm, rang out.
The reporter also sent WhatsApp and SMS messages to the PPRO’s two phone lines, but he still did not respond.
Ahaemefule Chimezie Nwadike Peter, a lawyer to Christ Holy Church International, has invited this reporter to be at Festac Police Station on Wednesday by 10am so that she would be able to get more facts about the case.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
