The Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a mother of two, Mrs. Gloria Okonba to six months jail term for abuse of her eleven year old maid.
Mrs. Gloria Okonba who is the wife of a lecturer with the Federal University Oye Ekiti, FUOYE was said to have brought the girl from Enugu to Ekiti in May, 2023 as a housemaid.
It was gathered that immediately she arrived Ekiti, Mrs. Okonba began to abuse her.
The 11 years old girl was tortured through beating with various objects, teeth bites and knife for no cause.
In December, 2023 during one of her beating episodes, Mrs.Okonba cut the child with a knife and was rushed to hospital by her husband when the bleeding refused to stop.
The very responsive children clinic EKSUTH haven noticed the extensive abuse referred the Child to Moremi Clinic from where the Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP) took the matter up.
The child was immediately withdrawn into Government custody for comprehensive medical care, psychosocial support and rehabilitation.
Today, Mrs Okonba a mother of two was convicted and sentenced to six
months imprisonment or N20,000 option of fine, after a very challenging prosecution which spanned about seven months.
In a chat with newsmen, the Executive Director, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP) Mrs. Rita Ilevbare expressed joy that the girl got justice.
She said:”With the support of GRIP, we were resolute on justice for the child, in the last 3 weeks we have been in and out of courts about 4times but we were not deterred by the various clogs on the road to justice.
“Now that judgement has been delivered, the process to reunite the Child with her family in Enugu is ongoing.
“We already established contact with her family since December, 2023.
