Anambra Lawyer Remanded for Allegedly Brutalizing 11-Year-Old House Help

The Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka, Anambra State, has ordered the remand of Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor, a female lawyer accused of abusing her 11-year-old house help. The distressing incident occurred in Akpaka, Onitsha, in the Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Cukelu-Okafor reportedly used a broken bottle, knife, and electric iron to “brutalize” the child, who had started living with her on January 5. The abuse allegedly stemmed from accusations that the house help had touched the lawyer’s daughter.

Days after the incident, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo announced the commencement of the prosecution against Cukelu-Okafor for the abuse. Following the lawyer’s disappearance, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra, Ify Obinabo, declared her wanted, leading to Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, placing a N2 million bounty on her.

Cukelu-Okafor later surrendered to the police in Awka, Anambra State. She was arraigned on Wednesday on a two-count charge of willful infliction of physical injuries on the house girl. The offence is punishable under Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 2017.

The defendant pleaded not guilty, and despite a bail application by her counsel, Chijioke Nwankwo, the court declined, remanding Cukelu-Okafor in the custody of the State Criminal Investigative Department in Awka. The court adjourned the matter until February 28 for a ruling on the bail application.

Defence counsel Nwankwo, unaware of the client’s wanted status, clarified that he took Cukelu-Okafor to the police as soon as he was contracted for her representation. He accused the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare of conducting a premature “trial by ordeal.”

Commissioner Obinabo expressed trust in the court’s ability to deliver justice and announced plans for a media sensitization program to enlighten residents on the dangers of child abuse. She urged the public to reject all forms of social vices, especially those endangering children’s lives.