A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Enugu East has remanded Anthony Onyeukwu, 47, over the death of his 11-year-old houseboy, Goodluck John.
The Commissioner of Gender, Ngozi Enih, revealed in a statement on Sunday that this move “is a part of Enugu State’s ongoing efforts to combat child abuse.”
Enih noted that Onyeukwu’s arrest followed a tip-off from the ministry’s whistleblower channels, suggesting that Goodluck’s death resulted from abuse within the household where he lived.
Onyeukwu was alleged to have hastily buried Goodluck’s remains in Abia State without reporting the death to the authorities, claiming the boy died from an illness at the Park Lane Hospital in Enugu. However, she said hospital records contradicted this claim, showing no admission or deposition of the corpse.
The statement disclosed that while arraigning the suspect last week, the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Calista Ifeanyi argued that Onyeukwu’s actions are punishable under Enugu State’s Revised Criminal Code saying that the case highlighted the state’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and preventing abuse, as outlined in the Child’s Rights and Responsibility Law of 2016.
The charge sheet marked: CME/631C/2024 read, “That you, Onyeukwu Anthony, ‘m’ on 15th day of October 2024, at about 20:30 hours at No. 4, Mike Onyeka Close, Loma Linda Extension, Maryland, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully kill one Goodluck John ‘m’ aged 11 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code, CAP 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”
The Chief Magistrate subsequently ordered the suspect’s remand in the Correctional Centre, Enugu and, adjourned the matter to November 20, 2024, when the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Enugu, would be expected.
(PUNCH)