In continuation of the investigation into the story of a minor who was trafficked into Lagos State for domestic servitude by her supposed biological mother and maternal aunt, leading to her becoming tortured by her elusive madam, Ifeoma Okoye, JULIANA FRANCIS highlights further drama surrounding the case as statements disappeared from the case files, and N220,000 collected by the Festac Police Station to track and arrest Okoye seems to have gone down the drain.Barrister Ahamefule Chiemezie Nwadike Peter of Christ Holy Church International and Chief Ernest Onyeze, the purported private investigator, failed to meet with the reporter on November 6, 2024 by 10am at the Festac Police Station. This failure means reneging on their promises to ensure that the reporter was able to meet all parties involved in the case of Kosarachi for an interview.
The case surrounding Kosarachi would later be moved to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja. On November 13, 2024, all parties were expected to meet at the Ikeja Gender Unit. The Chikodis, the supposed biological parents of Kosarachi, were on ground, along with a lawyer from Christ Holy Church International. Child Rights protection advocates, who were fighting for justice for Kosarachi, were also there.However, the Nwekes, who are the second party claiming to be parents of Kosarachi, did not come for the police interview. Another person, who was also not at the meeting, was Reverend Sister Justina Nelson of Religious Sisters of Charity, who has been the arrowhead demanding justice for the 10-year-old trafficked and physically abused Kosarachi.
Nelson was said to have gone for a prior engagement, scheduled before the appointment at the Gender Unit. She was represented by other concerned child rights activists: Justice Development and Peace Centre, DOHS Cares Foundation, and lawyer Chigbufue Nobert, Head of Chambers, Empire Solicitors.On that day, parties were to meet at Ikeja Gender Unit by noon, but the interview did not start until past 2pm because everyone was waiting for the Chikodis and their lawyer. When they arrived, real fireworks started, with both parties degenerating into incessant quarrels.
The Investigating Police Officer at Ikeja Gender Unit is Idongesit Ekpo. Working with him on the case is a Woman Police Officer. Ekpo, displaying a clear mark of experience and expertise, cleverly controlled the tension between the parties, diffusing it. The police officers expressed their displeasure at the absence of Nelson, saying she did not bother to call them to change the meeting date since she knew she would not be around. According to the police team, the presence of Nelson was “crucial to the case.” They said Nelson’s failure to tell them that she would not be available via phone call or SMS showed a disdain for their office. The police officers were also not happy that the Nwekes, the second couple claiming Kosarachi as their daughter, was not available.
However, what our reporter noticed at this meeting was that the police seemed to be fixated on the paternity issue, unwittingly pushing the primary cases of child labour, child trafficking and child physical abuse to the periphery. Similarly, the Christ Holy Church International’s lawyer and the Chikodis are on the same page with the police: focusing on paternity disputes.
However, lawyer Nobert repeatedly voiced out that the primary purpose of the case, which is that a child was trafficked into Lagos State for domestic labour, denied education and brutally battered, while the perpetrators of these crimes had not been arrested. He said this should not be jettisoned.
When IPO Ekpo asked the Child Rights advocates representing Kosarachi why the Nwekes did not make themselves available for the police interview, the police were told that the couple refused to travel from Rivers State to Lagos State because they had allegedly been facing threat to their lives due to the case.Our reporter learnt that this couple had earlier collected transport fare from one of the child rights organisations, promising to make themselves available for the meeting, but failed to turn up.
The Woman IPO on the case said of the Nwekes: “No matter the threat or fear, we are talking about a child, not a cow! How can you claim that your child had been missing for years and suddenly you found her, no matter the threat, you would want to do everything possible to get your child back. A father or mother would damn all consequences to ensure he or she gets that child.”It should be recalled that the case was transferred from Festac Police Station to the Ikeja Gender Unit for further investigation, resolution and prosecution.
This was, however, after the police personnel at Festac had collected N220,000 from Christ Holy Church International, promising to track and arrest the fleeing Madam Ifeoma Okoye. The IPO at Festac Police Station, who handled the investigation, has been identified as Nneka.
While IPO Ekpo was going through the case file transferred from Festac Police Station, he wondered aloud why the Nwekes, who had earlier gone to the Festac Police Station concerning the case of paternity dispute, did not write statements.
Our reporter also learned that the Chikodis brought pictures of when Kosarachi was born, her naming ceremony and her birthday, to prove that they were her biological parents. These documents were part of the items in the case file.
Ekpo was shocked when he was told by both parties that the Nwekes had written statements. Ekpo several times flipped through the case file back to front, but alas, someone had removed the statements of the Nwekes from the case file for some unfathomable reasons. Similarly, medical reports, including x-ray reports, which were paid for by the Christ Holy Church International and carried out on Kosarachi, were also alleged to be missing from the case file.
A fuming Ekpo immediately called Festac Police Station, asking why those documents were not inside the case file. The officer at the other end, after listening to the question, dropped the call. Ekpo, again, called. The receiver asked to be given some minutes to make some findings, promising to return the call. But after several minutes, she did not return the call, leading to Ekpo declaring that he would send a signal to demand that the IPO should produce those statements.
In the process of venting his anger and frustration on the shoddiness of the case, Ekpo was told by the parties that the police at Festac also collected N220,000 from Christ Holy Church International to track and arrest Ifeoma Okoye, but had failed to do so. It was this same church that facilitated her seeming flight from the wrath of the law of Okoye.
Again, Ekpo said that he would include in the signal he was planning to send to Festac Police that the IPO must also produce the fleeing Okoye because money for tracking and arrest had already exchanged hands. He added that for the case to be fast-tracked, it was important for the Nwekes to come down to Lagos State. He said that he would not rest on his oar until he sees the case to its logical conclusion. Ekpo also promised that he would start his investigation by visiting Kosarachi at the Police Juvenile Welfare Centre, Alakara, Mushin, to get to the bottom of the case.
Mrs. Chikodis (supposed mother of Karachi) was unhappy that the Nwekes had repeatedly failed to honour police invitations, while she had been in Lagos for weeks, with Christ Holy Church International catering for her feeding and lodging. She was not comfortable with the situation. She pleaded with the police to allow her to see Kosarachi, but Ekpo refused, explaining that the case was still ongoing. When Ekpo was shown the pictures of Kosarachi’s injuries, he became angry, asking aloud the kind of human being who dared to maltreat a child in such a matter.The meeting was adjourned, with Ekpo demanding to see the Nwekes, IPO Nneka producing the documents removed from the case file. He also wants the Festac Police to bring Okoye to the next meeting.
In an attempt to get all sides of the story and understand the case further, our reporter reached out to Hon. Chibuzor Nwalewe, the Councillor representing Odufor in Etchie Local Government Area in Rivers State. It will be recalled that Barrister Peter of Christ Holy Church International had several times accused Nelson of being the sponsor of the unknown couple like the Nwekes to claim Kosarachi as their child.
However, Nwalewe in the interview with our reporter, explained how he followed up on Kosarachi’s case after sighting a viral video of the injured child and then started a search for her family members, finally zeroing down on the Nwekes. He said: “Some time ago, a boy and girl went missing in our community. They are the children of Mr. Odinaka Nweke from Odufor Etchie. “It wasn’t a hidden story. When that incident happened, everybody was aware. We reported to a nearby police station. Although then he was living in Iguta. Iguta is located in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of River State.
“Being a poor man, a man who does not have money, he followed the matter in his little capacity. At a time, he let go. So, sometime last month, I was here in my room, I got a video on social media via a WhatsApp group that I’m into, where a girl-child was brutally handled. She was being questioned about her name and where she came from. “She replied that she was from Odufor in Rivers State.
“When I saw this video, I became restless because I am from Odufor in River State. I am the representative of Odufor. By then, I had forgotten the incident that happened; the incident of Odinaka and his missing children. Now, I sent my Personal Assistant, Prince Nwala, to go and confirm from the communities. Ask around if there is anyone who would be able to recognise the child and say if she was theirs. He went home and then later called me to say that he met with Odinaka and his wife. “He said that when he went home and showed it to some people, they told him to go and meet Odinaka and his wife, and that the girl looked like Odinaka’s child. Odinaka’s wife sent a text and said it was her child.
“Now he reported back to me. I was now looking for a way to find the original poster of that video. I met one Ugochukwu Nwoko, who happens to be a former media aide to a former chairman, Hon. Dr. Obinna Anyawu. “I called him because it was through him that I got that video. He said he got that video through one Reverend Father Okowa Christian from Nwankwo, Etchie Local Government. He sent me the number of the Reverend Father. “I called Reverend Father Okowa, who then sent me the phone number of one Reverend Sister at Ogoni. I called her. It was through that woman we were able to get the phone number of Reverend Sister Justina. When I called Justina, she was very happy because she was concerned about the child. She was happy to have identified with someone from Odufor. She said that some persons were laying claim on the child, saying that the child is from Ngor-Okpala in Imo State.
“I summoned Odinaka and his wife; I asked them some questions. They agreed and told me that that child was theirs. I reported to my boss, the local government chairman. He sent me the phone number of the Department of State Services Commander in Etche. I went to their office, and I signalled them. “They responded that they knew what to do and that we should mobilise them so that they could swing into action. While I was discussing with Justina, she told me that she needed evidence. A picture of where this child and her parents were captured, so that we know that the girl belonged to Odinaka Nweke and his wife.
“I called Odinaka and he said, and I believe, he said when that incident happened, they took the pictures of these two children to different churches for prayers. I suggested he should go back to those churches to see if he could retrieve some of those pictures. They went, but it was a futile effort. This incident of missing children happened some years ago. Sister Justina said that they might have to come down to Lagos, I said no problem.“Everybody knows the political situation in Rivers State and the tension in the state. So, she said she needed our help to sponsor them to come to Lagos. I said, no problem. But we tried, we rallied round, that was how they were able to come to Lagos. So, anyone saying that sister Justina sponsored or brought people to claim a child is lying! Now, Odinaka Nweke went to Lagos. This woman called me and said, there was another matter.
“I asked: ‘What matter?’ She said they now have two couples who said they are all from Odufor, claiming to be parents of the girl. The other couple (Chikodis) are also claiming to be from Rivers State. I asked that their video be sent to me. I looked at it, but I did not recognise the woman. I don’t know the woman. I am not an Odufor man who lives in town. I am from Odufor. All my life, I have been in Odufor. There is no weekend that I don’t go to Odufor. I told her I didn’t know the couple claiming to be from Odufor and claiming to be the parents of the girl. “Just to be sure, I asked for the photo of the husband; at least if I didn’t recognise the woman, I may recognise her husband. Sister Justina said there may have to be a DNA test. I said no problem. I am convinced that the child is an Odufor child!
“We started tracking the fleeing lady (Ifeoma Okoye), The lady was tracked to Omoku. According to the tracker, today she is at Delta, and by tomorrow she will be at Anambra. That is the way she has been jumping up and down. Finally, they said she is now at Omoku in Rivers State. “A team of policemen were sent to see if they could arrest her, but they couldn’t get her. This is all I know about this matter.“And sister Justina has been very helpful. “She is not laying claim to the child. She is not just fighting for justice for nothing. She told me that what happened was a crime. That is her interest. Secondly, for the sake of that child. Justice for that child. That is also her interest.
“My interest is that that child is an Odufor child. She is from Odufor. So, Odufor first. Because without Odufor, there would be no me. I am a representative because I have a community to represent. That is my interest. So, that is just what happened.“
Anybody, anywhere, who can come into this matter to help us should please do so. We need justice for that little girl. I want to know the name of that man (Chikodi) who ran away with his family and is now based in Ngor-Okpala in Imo State. I want to know his name. They said he is from Oudufor. He should tell me the family he comes from and his name. There is nobody in Odufor that I do not know. There is nobody in Odufor that does not know Hon. Chibuzor Nwalewe. There is nobody that doesn’t know me.
“I have been asking Sister Justina what is that man’s name? They should tell me his name. They should tell us his family name so that I can trace it. Our Odufor child’s name is Omenwa, while her English name is Emmanuella, but they changed it to Kosarachi.”
The parties on November 27, 2024 met with the police team at the Ikeja Gender Unit, but again, the case was stalled. The Nwekes, again, did not come for the police interview. Our reporter gathered that the missing statements were taken by personnel from Festac Police Station to the Gender Unit.The police team fixed the next appointment for December 9, 2024. The child rights groups were asked to ensure that the Nwekes would be available on that date.
Findings also revealed that Ekpo, who went to the JWC as promised to interview Kosarachi, did not succeed. According to him, Kosarachi has been moved out of JWC. He said that he does not know where the child is right now.Some of the child rights advocates are grumbling because there are talks by the Gender Unit to hand Kosarachi over to the Chikodis. According to the police, the Nwekes have absconded.
It should be recalled that the Chikodis trafficked the 10-year-old Kosarachi into domestic servitude, while she was still about eight. And while she worked to the bones and tortured by her madam, her supposed biological mother, Mrs. Chikodis and her maternal aunt, Gift, were gleefully collecting her salaries. These women have not been arrested and still, the police are said to be planning to return this child to the same people. The talk of justice for the child as ascribed by the Lagos State Child Rights Act is wobbling. Ms Theresa of JDPC, who has been closely monitoring the case, appears to be frustrated as justice for Kosarachi begins to slip away.
She said: “Members of Christ Holy Church International were curious that we have been coming with so many advocates before, but at the last meeting we were alone, suggesting that those we are working with know that the case is worthless. The Festac JWC unit brought the statement of the Rivers State couple (Nwekes) that was initially not in the case file and submitted it to the Gender Unit. “We were told by the IPO that Kosarachi was no longer at JWC Alakara and that members of the human rights groups fighting for Kosarachi were asked for her whereabouts, but they didn’t know. The last information many of them had was that Kosarachi was at JWC. The IPO told them that the child has been taken to another shelter because JWC Alakara does not have enough space.”
From all indications, the case and investigation seem to be swinging favourably in the direction of the Chikodis who have repeatedly honoured police invitations for interviews, even providing pictures to prove that Kosarachi is their biological child. Meanwhile, the police have not arrested Okoye and DNA has not been conducted to know the true paternity of Kosarachi. Indeed, some advocates said it was unclear why the Lagos State Police Command could not synergise with the Rivers State Police Command to arrest Okoye and then interview the Nwekes in Rivers State. To get further information concerning the case, our reporter has sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju Olawale.
