The Anambra state government has officially acknowledged the detention of Adachukwu Chikelu-Okafor, a female lawyer accused of inflicting severe harm on her 10-year-old housekeeper by allegedly inserting a hot knife into her private parts.
Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, confirmed this development during an interview with journalists in Awka. She stated that the lawyer, based in Onitsha, surrendered herself to the police a few days after a bounty of two million naira (N2m) was placed on her.
Mrs. Obinabo revealed that arrangements are underway to arraign the suspect before the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka this week. She also mentioned that efforts are being made to ensure a thorough prosecution.
The Commissioner, who recently visited the survivor, a girl named Happiness Nwafor, in the hospital where she was undergoing treatment, affirmed that the girl has been successfully treated and discharged. She expressed gratitude for the swift recovery.
Recall that Mrs. Okafor, the accused, allegedly subjected the 10-year-old housekeeper to severe abuse, including inserting a hot knife into her private parts and burning parts of her buttocks with a hot iron in Akpaka, Onitsha, where they resided.
A viral video depicting the girl’s injuries, including bruises and burns, drew widespread attention and led to a manhunt for the suspect, who went into hiding. The Federal Government offered a bounty of two million naira for information leading to her arrest.
Shortly after the bounty was announced, the suspect reportedly turned herself in to the police at the Anambra State’s Criminal Investigation Department, State CID, Amawbia.