Governor El-Rufai’s wife Unmi El-Rufai, the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Kaduna State FIDA and other human rights activists have demanded justice for 14-year-old Princess Michael who was reportedly tortured by her boss in Kaduna.
Princess’ story hit the public after 10-year-old Chinonye Nnoye suffered a fate similar to that in the hands of her mistress Ifeoma Ezeogwu in Enugu (read here and here).
Chinonye
Princess
Princess, From IDP Camp To Hot Knife And Battering
Princess Michael was said to have been taken from the Internally Displaced Peoples camp, Kajuru in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State after much pleading from her parents and handed over to her mistress identified as Mrs Yemi Awolola, a deaconess with Living Faith Church (Winners) and Senior Officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, with the promise that she would go to school.
Contrary to the promise of receiving care, however, Princess was reportedly battered with a knife by the middle-aged woman who was said to have also subjected her to other dehumanized conditions for more than one year. There was no concrete detail regarding why Yemi Awolola battered the teenager this time but PUNCH reported that a source stated revealed she was accused of putting a knife on a burner or stove and when it’s hot, she placed it on Princess’ face and buttocks.
Deaconess Yemi Awolola
Justice For Princess
As pictures and videos of the girl circulated, Umni El-rufai and the others demand justice as they described Yemi Awolola’s action as ungodly and inhumane.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, who reportedly identified the woman to PUNCH said she was currently in custody of the command and would be charge to court immediately after investigation by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department. On Princess’ whereabouts, Jalige said she has been taken to the hospital for medical examinations and treatment.
Princess
Deaconess Yemi
The Prosecution
Channels TV on Tuesday reported that Mrs Yemi Awolola was arrested and detained by the police over the weekend and has been arraigned on Monday before a Magistrate Court in the State capital. She was said to have been prosecuted on a three-count charge of child labour, violence against children as well as sexual violence. Although she pleaded guilty to the charges against her, the case has been adjourned to August 27 for the continuation of her trial. Meanwhile, the court ordered that she be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) until the next adjourned sitting.
