BY Janefrances Chibundu
The federal government says legal action will be taken against a couple, Ifeanyi and Christabel Ewuru, in Enugu state over the alleged molestation and neglect of their eight-year-old daughter.
While addressing the media on Tuesday in Abuja, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, said the survivor must get justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
She expressed concern over incessant cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), harmful traditional practices and other forms of abuse meted out to women, children and the vulnerable.
“This eight-year-old girl has been molested severely by her stepfather, who has given her diseases, broken her walls, which has been confirmed in the hospital, also by the lawyer and mother of this girl,” she said.
“The matter was taken to court, but unfortunately, the magistrate released this man on bail.
“We want to know why he was released despite the allegations against him simply because the woman cried that she didn’t want her husband to be jailed.
“What about the voiceless girl? What about the torture, emotional pains the girl went through and threat not to disclose the molestation?
“We are suing the woman for negligence. Because if she was not negligent, this girl would not have suffered this thing for a long time.
“And this woman had the guts to defend the man who did this to your daughter simply because you want to keep the marriage.
“We are suing the man on behalf of the young girl to make sure he pays for his sin, the rule of law must prevail, the truth must prevail. Justice must be done on behalf of this young girl.”
The minister said the establishment of mobile courts will hasten the prosecution of perpetrators of SGBV and other harmful practices against women and children.
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