child abuse

The Lagos state police command said  parents and guardians who assault their children and wards will be   made to face the full wrath of the law.

 This follows the arrest and prosecution of a house wife Chigozie Godrick for allegedly brutalizing her ward Ifunnaya Nwamba  12.

Mrs  Godrick was arrested last month following a petition to the police by the  school authority at the , Adeniyi Jones  Primary School located at 1, Kudeti Street Adekunle Village in Adeniyi Jones where Miss Nwamba is a pupil on repeated cases of brutality by her guardian Mrs Godrick

 Miss Nwamba’s class room teacher had noticed on April 8^th that she had come to school that day with a swollen face and bruises all over her body.

 The class teacher one Mr Jimoh took miss Nwamba’s case to the school authority and  the girl who  was weak and groaning in pains was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“After her treatment,Ifunnaya narrated her ordeal  to the school authority. She stated that she was punished for her inability to wash Miss Godrick’s Sienna bus wagon car properly. Ifunnaya is a little above four feet while the height of the car is above five feet so she was unable to wash the top parts of the car so when her madam saw that the top of the car was not washed, she became angry and used the water hose to beat the poor girl.”Mr. Jimoh said

Following this brutality, the school authority in a petition dated 8^th April and addressed to the commissioner of police in the state read in part.

 ’’The management of Adeniyi Jones Primary School hereby petition the police command on the assault on one of our pupil Miss Ifunnaya Nwamba a 12 year old girl who was brutalised by her guardian( Mrs Chigozie Godrick). The girl claimed to have been battered as a result of her failure to wash her (Mrs Chigozie Godrick,s) car to her satisfaction.

This has been a re-occurring issue for the past two years. About a year ago, her back was bruised and when the management asked her, she said it was caused by hot oil poured on her by this same guardian. She claimed to have always beaten her with turning pestle, hose, pipes and wood with nails’’.

The school also petitioned the Executive Chairman, the state Universal Basic Education Board at  Maryland, the  Social Welfare, and also  the  Guidance and Counseling Unit School services, through The Education Secretary Local Government Education Authority who gave the authority for the school to proceed with the case.

Police spokes person Samuel Jinadu said the police will not hesitant to arrest and prosecute any parent or guardian who assault their children and wards he said “the case was transferred to the Human Rights Department and the woman(Mrs. Chigozie Godrick) was charged to court on April 14, 2011. Mrs.  Godrick was charged to the Ikeja Magistrate court.”Mr. Jinadu said

 Mrs. Godrick was charged on a two count charge of alleged assault and causing grievous bodily harm.

Count1 read in part  “That you  Chigozie Godrick of No. 6 Duro Dania close Adeniyi Jones pour hot groundnut oil on the back of one Ifunnaya 12 years which caused her grievous bodily harm and committing an offence punishable under section 335 of criminal code cap 32 Volume 11 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Count 2 read in part “that you Mrs  Chigozie Godrick assaulted Miss Ifunnaya Nwamba by giving her fist blows on her mouth and eyes which caused her bodily injuries and committed an offence punishable under section 335 of criminal code cap 32 Vol. 11 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

 Miss Godrick however pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000. The case was adjourned to May 23^rd 2011