Chinedu Eze
11 September 2005
Abakaliki — A member of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Nkem Chukwu, has alleged a threat to her life after helping an 11-year old girl, who was raped by a neighbour to seek justice.
The lawyer said the death threats came from those who claim to be relations and political associates of one Mr. Martin Chukwu, 35, a tailor who lives at Ikwo Road, Onueke, headquarters of Ebonyi Central Senatorial district, and who was arraigned in court for allegedly raping Miss Ukamaka Egbere who is now critically ill at Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.
Chukwu told THISDAY in Abakaliki weekend that she learnt of Ukama's defilement when the rape victim was brought to the hospital with severe injuries in her private part, fever, headache and damage to her pelvic region.
The young girl, who was living with her guardian, a truck driver, refused to disclose her ordeal to anybody as the accused was said to have threatened to kill her if she did, but opened up when her mother was invited to the hospital from their village, Ezzama near Onueke.
Amaka narrated how the accused, Chukwu asked her to go and buy klin detergent for him and when she returned with the product, he pushed her into the house, locked it and raped her.
It was when the rape victim became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital that the doctor attending to her, after days of treatment, discovered that her private part was "emitting repellent odour" and decided to carry out further examination, which revealed lacerations in her body, in addition to pelvic injuries.
THISDAY learnt that before FIDA took up the case, the accused was arrested by investigation police officer at Onueke Police Station, but was later released under the sortieship of Ezza East Local Government Chairman, Mr. Cajetan Awo Nweke, who promised to take care of the medical bills of the victim.
Chukwu was rearrested following pressures from FIDA and other human right groups and was charged to court on August 30 at the Magistrate Court, Onueke during which the court reserved the date for ruling for September 5, directing that the accused be remanded in police custody.
It was the day after first sitting on the case that the travails of Mrs. Chukwu started, as she disclosed to THISDAY that she received a call from Ezza East Local Government chairman who threatened to "deal with her" unless she and her organisation handed-off from the case.
Also at the court premises, she said two young men who claimed to be aides to the chairman harassed and threatened to kill her unless she withdrew from the case.
FIDA representative has already made formal report of the threat to the police and the state government and when THISDAY contacted Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi State Police Command, DSP Chijioke Wokoma, he said the command was aware of the case and it's investigating the matter for the next court sitting.
Meanwhile, the case was said to be beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court and therefore would be taken to the High Court.
According to FIDA Chairman Ebonyi State, who is a Chief Magistrate, Destina Okoh, "it was a case of defilement, an aggravated form of rape because the girl, 11, was underaged; therefore the Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction over the matter" so the accused would continue to be remanded in detention, while the case would be referred to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) who would prepare the case to the High Court.
Efforts to get the chairman to speak on the matter proved abortive, as his telephone set was constantly switched off.
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