A DIRECTOR in the Abia State Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Solid Minerals Development who also sits on the board of the state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission ( ASOPADEC) has been interdicted on the orders of the state governor Chief Theodore Orji.
While the state Information Commissioner Dr Anthony Agbazuere told reporters on Thursday at the Government House Umuahia that the official was interdicted for allegedly raping his under-aged house-help, the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna while reacting to the incident about 3 pm said that report available to the Police Command suggests that the incident may be an attempted murder and not rape.
He said the victim was bleeding form every opening in her body before she died.
Describing the incident which took place in the official’s residence in Umuahia, as “heinous and one that attracts on conviction , life imprisonment for rape and death by hanging for killing or murder”
Agbazuere also said the suspect’s appointment as member of the ASOPADEC Board has been terminated by the government while the state Civil Service Commission has also been directed to take necessary action on the matter in accordance with the Civil Service rule while the case goes on.
Speaking on the matter, the victim’s father , Chinenye Ngwakwe who is Security Officer in the state Ministry of Finance said his late daughter was only 10 years old even as he called for justice.
He said that though government has taken over the matter, he would still want his daughter to be buried like those that died or die in the same circumstance like his daughter in accordance with the tradition and custom of his town Owo Ahiafor in Obingwa Local Council of the state.
Also , the state Chapter of the International Federation of Female Lawyers ( FIDA) has vowed to monitor the proceedings.
According to the State FIDA Assistant Secretary Florence Egwuonwu, FIDA will follow up the case from the beginning till the matter reaches a logical end that guarantees justice is done.
