A Lagos-based lawyer identified as Igwe Ifeoma has been charged to court over allegations of child trafficking and assault of an 11-year-old Esther (last name withheld).
Ifeoma was arraigned before Chief Magistrate P.E Nwaka sitting on Wednesday at the Magistrate’s Court, Yaba area of the state.
Ifeoma allegedly treated the victim as a slave. She is facing six counts of conspiracy of child trafficking, inhuman treatment, unlawful assault, and inflicting bodily injuries, and permanently blinding the victim.
The charges read in part: “That you, Barrister Igwe Ifeoma, on the said date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did take” away the victim so that she would be held or treated as a”Slave or servitude under your custody”.
“That you, Barrister Igwe Ifeoma, on the said date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault Esther by repeatedly inflicting various degrees of bodily harm on her ears, left eyes, her back, neck, laps, buttocks, and other parts of her body.
“That you, Barrister Igwe Ifeoma, on the said date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did grievous harm to Esther by injuring her in her eyes with a wire capable of rendering her permanently blind”.
The prosecutor, Olofin Williams, said the offenses were punishable under Sections 411, 276(a), 172, 173, 246, and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Magistrate Nwaka granted the accused a bail of N200,000 with two sureties and ordered that the victim be taken to the state’s social welfare office.
The matter was adjourned till September 23 for mention.