An Imo lawmaker has petitioned the State Police Command to look into the alleged child abuse of a 12-year-old maid, Chimkamso Ekeocha, who was burnt by his guardian.
According to The PUNCH, the guardian, Uzoma Egemba, was arrested in Owerri on Thursday for scalding the buttocks and body of Ekeocha.
Subsequently, the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and member representing Mbaitoli Constituency, Okey Onyekanma, has asked the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, to commence the prosecution of Egemba.
In a petition to the CP, Onyekanma, described the burning as “child abuse, infliction of grievous bodily harm and inhuman treatment.”
Describing the minor as his constituent, the lawmaker said that his office would collaborate with the police in ensuring that the victim got justice.
The petition partly read, “My attention has been drawn to a case of child abuse and infliction of grievous bodily harm on Chikamso Ekeocha, a 12-year-old maid, by his guardian, Mr. Uzoma Egemba, for riding his children’s bicycle.
“According to the victim, Mr. Egemba burnt his buttocks, thighs and body on Sunday, June 26, at his residence in World Bank, Owerri, using pressing iron.
“This gruesome act amounts to child abuse, infliction of grievous bodily harm and inhuman treatment frowned upon by the Part 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Child Right Law and Criminal Code Act of Nigeria.
“Chikamso Ekeoha, who has been admitted at the Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, hails from Ubomiri in the Mbaitoli LGA and whose constituency I represent at the Imo State House of Assembly.
“Consequently, I urge you most respectfully to use your good offices to investigate and prosecute the suspect accordingly and ensure that the minor, Chikamso, gets justice.”
Also the state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists called on the state government and the CP to ensure justice for the minor.
The chairperson of NAWOJ in the state, Vivian Otti, who spoke when she led some members of the association to visit the victim at the hospital, said they would work to ensure that the girl got justice.
Otti said that NAWOJ in the state would brief a lawyer who would join the team that would prosecute the suspect.
