14th March, 2012
A policeman, Inspector Kinanee Jacob, on Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how a 14-year old boy, Oliver Arakwe, was allegedly tortured to death by his employers, Elochukwu and Chiamaka Nnajiofor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jacob was testifying in the murder trial of Elochukwu (40) and Chiamaka (26) before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
Jacob, who was being led in evidence by Ms. Olaide Eboda, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution, said that the deceased was one of the three domestic servants of the Nnajiofors.
The witness said that Arakwe died on August 17, 2010 at the Eko General Hospital, Surulere, after he was allegedly tortured and beaten by Chiamaka for “misbehaving.”
He said: “The matter was transferred from Ago/Okota Police Station, Isolo to the Homicide Sect ion, State CID, Yaba.
“During our investigation, it was discovered that Chiamaka actually tortured the deceased.
“When we got to the crime scene, we discovered that he was kept in the toilet for two days.
“He was then brought out and asked to wash some clothes but he could not perform the task because he was very weak.”
According to him, this angered Chiamaka who then instructed another domestic-servant named Emmanuel, to flog him.
“When she discovered that Emmanuel was not flogging the deceased, she took a belt, tied him with a chain to the toilet bowl and beat him till he lost consciousness,” Jacob alleged.
Jacob said that she later rushed the boy to the hospital, where she allegedly told the doctor that she “just saw the boy on the road.”
The witness said that Arakwe died before the doctor could start treatment, and his body was transferred to the mortuary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
He said that the police recovered a chain, leather belt, rope and a big shoe among other exhibits from the residence of the Nnajiofors located at 81, Femi Tella Street, Ago/Okota, Isolo, Lagos.
NAN reports that the matter was adjourned to April 30, for continuation of trial.