An Enugu State magistrate court has remanded a woman, Mrs. Ada Ogbogu, in the Enugu Correctional Centre for allegedly br3aking her three-year-old stepson’s bone with a pestle.
Arraigning the accused person on Tuesday, the police told the court that the offence attracts life imprisonment as punishment if convicted.
The charge marked CME/646C/2024, reads, “That you, Ada Ogbogu, female, on the 23rd of October 2024, at about 1430hours at Ike Ani Estate, Emene Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to m+im or disfig3ree one Kaitobechukwu Ogbogu, male, aged 3 years, po¥r hot water on his nose, mouth and h3t him with a pestle, which dislocated his left legend caused him serious inj¥ry and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 288 (a) of the Enugu Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II. Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”
Her bail application was rejected by Chief Magistrate Alphonsus Edeh, who ordered that she should be remanded at Enugu Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the matter to November 26, 2024, when the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, is being expected.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, told journalists that Mrs. Ogbogu’s arraignment was in line with the administration’s vow to follow the matter to a logical conclusion, insisting that no child should be d3h¥manized in the state.
“Recall that the State Government had taken swift action on this matter by arresting the accused and today she is already in court. This decisive move demonstrates Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to protecting children. So, if you mistr3at or ab3se any child in Enugu, then you are in for trouble. Period,” she stated.
