A Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State, has ordered the detention of Mrs. Adachukwu Okafor, a lawyer, in police custody. This decision comes in response to allegations of her brutalizing her 11-year-old househelp.

The woman allegedly inserted a sharp object in the girl’s private part for failing to do some domestic chores.

She had earlier on Tuesday appeared before the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, claiming that the girl injured herself while trying to run away from being flogged.

Okafor had initially gone on the run after reports of the incident emerged.

She was declared wanted by the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, and a bounty of N2 million placed on her head, before she later turned herself in at a police station in Awka.

The female lawyer was on Wednesday arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka, on a-two count charge bordering on willful infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor, an offence punishable under Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection), Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court refused to grant the bail application moved by her lawyer, Chijioke Nwankwo.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to 28th February 2024 for ruling.