A 65-year-old man, Francis Ogwu, has been handed over to the police for allegedly defiling his seven-year-old domestic helper. Ogwu, who is a pastor and general overseer of Jesus House of Joy Church in Awka, was arrested after concerned residents of the town raised an alarm.
The media aide to the Anambra Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Miss Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, confirmed this in a statement to newsmen in Awka on Thursday.
Ogwu, originally from Imo State, has lived in Anambra with his wife and children for over 30 years.
He confessed to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, that he “just fingered the girl once,” denying the allegations of penetration made by the seven-year-old victim.
Ogwu attributed his actions to temptation, claiming his wife often denied him sex and made excuses for fasting whenever he desired her.
Meanwhile, the seven-year-old, who narrated her side of the story, said the suspect had carnal knowledge of her over three times.
She informed the Commissioner that her guardian, Ogwu, usually gave her money ranging from N500 to N1,000 after each experience.
She also said that at some point, she was accused by the pastor’s wife of snatching the husband from her.
The girl noted that what prompted her to leave was the beating she got by the suspect’s daughter at any slightest mistake.
Speaking, the mother of the victim, a native of Awka, Destiny Nwabueze, stated that she handed the daughter over to the Ogwu family due to their cordial relationship over time.
Nwabueze said that she was shocked when her daughter returned and told her of the development.
She revealed that she quickly called the suspect, who, upon arrival, denied the allegations, prompting her to involve other people by raising the alarm.
Reacting to the ugly incident, Obinabo said she would ensure the seven-year-old got justice.
The Commissioner advised women to always be vigilant about their husbands’ behaviors.
She also advised women to stop starving their husbands of sex as that could lead to bad behavior for some men.
Obinabo, who charged women to always protect their girl child at all costs, noted that defilement was no longer excusable in Anambra State.
Ogwu was kept under police custody as the case would be charged to court.
