By Richard Akintade, Osogbo.
One Ola Emmanuel has been sentenced to 24 hours’ community service in Osun State for abusing his six years old child.
A Family Court in the state found Emmanuel guilty of child abuse before sentencing him. The court ordered that the boy remain in the custody of Osun State government at the Children’s Home.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command had arraigned the 35 years old man at the family Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital.
The State Commandant, CC Emmanuel Ocheja made this known through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Corps II (ASC II) Atanda Olabisi at the State Headquarters, Ilesha Road, Oke Ayepe, Osogbo.
The defendant, a divorcée, was arraigned for abusing his 6 years old son at his residence at No. 2 Temitope Street, Oke-Oniti, Osogbo, under the jurisdiction of Osogbo Central “A” Area Command of NSCDC, Osun State Command, on the 17th March, 2022.
The court held that the boy does not attend school owing to the inability of his father to pay his school fees.
According to Emmanuel, he prepared beans, served the little boy his own portion and kept the remaining for himself in order to fall back on it when he returned from work, but getting home, he discovered that his son had finished the all the food.
This act infuriated the man which made him to beat the boy mercilessly with a cable. The inhuman treatment led to various injuries on the boy’s body.
A concerned neighbour raised the alarm and contacted the Area Commander, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Oyetunji Olusegun to report the incident.
The case was subsequently transferred to the state headquarters for further investigations and prosecution.
According to some members of the community in Osogbo, the victim had been subjected to regular torture and abuse by his father. They pointed to the scars and wounds sustained by the boy as evidence of torture by the father.
During interview by the Public Relations Officer, ASC II Atanda Olabisi, the convict said his son is greedy, picking up things that do not belong to him, hence his anger towards him to discourage his bad behaviour.
After investigation by the Anti Human Trafficking, Irregular Migration and Gender Based Unit of the NSCDC, Osun state Command, Emmanuel was arraigned at a Family Court. The Court found him guilty as charged.
The Head, Anti-Human Trafficking, Irregular Migration and Gender Based Unit, of the NSCDC, Osun State Command, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Onifade Clement decried the prevalence of child abuse in the country.
He advised parents and guardians to desist from abusing any child under their care.
While commenting on the judgment, Commandant Ocheja stressed that any parent, guardian or whosoever that is found abusing a child would be made to face the consequences.
He urged the public not to relent in giving adequate and proactive information to the Corps for prompt response.
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