The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has vowed that the suspect accused of torturing a female student with a hot electric iron will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Chuma-Udeh made this known while addressing the suspect, Osinachi Ede, in her office in Awka on Friday .
“The suspect will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for brutalising the victim. This is to serve as a deterrent to others who might be engaging in such acts,” the commissioner said .
The 29-year-old suspect was taken into custody by the Anambra State Police Command on February 3 for allegedly abusing and inflicting serious injuries on a 17-year-old girl, said to be her house help in Awka . The suspect allegedly used a hot pressing iron on the victim as punishment after the girl used her phone without permission . During police interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the act .
The commissioner directed that the victim, who had earlier been sent to her relatives, be returned to Awka, reiterating the state government’s commitment to child protection .
“This reaffirms the resolve of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to ensure the welfare and safety of every child in Anambra schools. The interest of Mr Governor in this matter is to ensure that every child in Anambra is adequately protected from abuse,” Chuma-Udeh stated .
She warned that the full weight of the law would be applied against anyone found culpable of child abuse in the state .
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, had earlier confirmed that the police received the suspect from the Anambra State Ministry of Education on Tuesday, February 3 . Ikenga commended the vigilance of the school authorities who noticed severe injuries on the victim during a teaching session and reported the matter .
