Friday, 10 February 2012
Fashola, Please Help Release 17-Year Old Girl Imprisoned At KiriKiri By Her Uncle After He Impregnated Her
I want to bring to the attention of Mr President, Governor Fashola and all well meaning and thoughtful Nigerians about the plight of a seventeen year old girl named Comfort from a dirt poor family from Rivers State who is now languishing in Kirikiri prison where she recently gave birth to a baby boy named Monday.
As a father, my heart bled profusely when I saw the story of this young, promising but poor girl in the News Service Of Nigeria and I decided to give it wider coverage thru SaharaReporters. Comfort hails from Rivers State, the fourth child from a family of seven. She sold sachet water to help her family get by. An Uncle Mr Nwitua Nadun met her in her humble situation and agreed to bring her to Lagos and help with her education.
Surmise it to say that she got pregnant for her Uncle, was accused of stealing his money and then got locked up in Kirikiri prisons where she gave birth to a baby boy named Monday. She is unable to post her bail and I do believe in my spirit that this young girl is innocent.
She does not deserve to be in jail and this is why I am calling on Mr President, Governor Fashola and all well meaning Nigerians to look into this case and take action.
If Comfort remains in jail, her boy could be taken away and put up for adoption in 18 months. Being a father myself my heart bleeds to see this young lady in this situation. May God touch the hearts of my fellow Nigerians to step into this matter. If SaharaReporters could set up an account to help her get out jail, people of faith in Chicago and Nigeria will respond. While this issue may be a bit off topic,I am thanking the Lord for that heart that will be touched to help COMFORT regain her freedom. For all those who have been touched, remain blessed and God will continue to multiply your good fortunes one thousand fold.
Punch Newspaper Report:Detained for stealing, 17-year-old girl gives birth to baby boy in Kirikiri Written By Comfort Oseghale
If Baby Monday is not Kirikiri Minimum Prison‘s youngest inmate, he will certainly be one of the youngest. Her mother is being detained in the prison and was delivered of him only 13 days ago.
For obvious reasons, Monday’s arrival could not be marked with any fanfare. There were no visits from friends and relations and there were no shouts of congratulations or offer of gifts.
Baby Monday was born at the Lagos Island Maternity, where officials of the prison had taken Comfort, his mother, as soon as she went into labour on August 1, 2010. Comfort is awaiting trial for allegedly stealing the sum of N200,000 belonging to her boss, but she insists she is innocent of her alleged crime.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr. Ope Fatinikun said the prison was well equipped to take care of nursing inmates and their babies. ‘‘There are so many inmates who come in here pregnant, although they might not know it. As a matter of fact, we do conduct pregnancy tests for them immediately they are brought here and the results are shown to them. So, we are equipped to take care of them and their babies. There is a clinic attached to the prison and in case of any emergency, we do refer them to the General hospital,‘‘ Fatinikun said.
But he added that the baby could only be kept in the prison for 18 months. ‘‘The law states that it is not in the best interests of the child for him or her to discover that they were born in the prison. So when the child is 18 months old and no relative has come to take them away, the prison is empowered by law to take them to the SOS children‘s village where they might be put up for adoption,‘‘ he said
Comfort‘s journey to Kirikiri began when she met her former boss, Nwitua Nadum, at Elele Alimini, Rivers State sometime last year. ‘‘I knew him as my landlord‘s friend,‘‘ she said, adding that she was then selling sachet water otherwise called pure water, having had to halt her education at Primary Four because of financial constraints.
She said, ‘‘I am the fourth of seven children. We have always struggled to survive. But things became particularly bad after my paternal grandmother died. My elder siblings didn‘t have much of education either, so they are not better off. My eldest brother pushes a wheel barrow in the market for a living while my father is a farmer. I was fetching water one day when Nadum came around. He asked what I was doing at home and I said I had to stop school because there was no money. He then said it was a pity that a pretty girl like me was suffering when someone could have helped me to live a better life. Later, my father told me that I would go to Lagos with Nadum to be his house help, and in return, he (Nadum) would send me to school.‘‘
Nadum lived alone at his 2 Owode Street, Abule Egba, Lagos residence, while his wife and children lived abroad. Comfort said apart from household chores, she also assisted with the sale of compressors and air conditioners at Nadum’s shop. She said that contrary to what her father had told her, she only attended school for a month after which Nadum ordered her to withdraw. ‘‘My boss pulled me out of school when he started molesting me,‘‘ she alleged. ‘‘I called my father and told him that he should come here and take me away, but he told me that he had no money to travel down to Lagos.‘‘
When our correspondent called Comfort‘s father on the phone and told him that his daughter was being incarcerated in Kirikiri Medium Prison and that she had been delivered of a baby boy, the man went hysterical. ‘‘I don‘t know why Nadum would do that to my child. I can never do such a thing to somebody else‘s child. I leave everything in the hands of God. He did all this to me and yet I didn‘t get a penny from him,‘‘ he said.
Asked if he intended to claim his grandchild, Comfort‘s father replied, ‘‘I don‘t have any money to come to Lagos.‘‘
Comfort claimed she had cried to her boss‘s wife for help when the lady came to Nigeria. ‘‘I told her what I had been passing through in the hands of her husband. To my surprise, she felt unconcerned. She just told me it wasn‘t her business.‘‘ She said that Mrs. Nadum concluded her business in Nigeria and travelled out again without addressing her husband‘s alleged offences. ‘‘When I discovered that I was pregnant a few months later, I was scared. I confided in a neighbour who everyone called Mama. She told me to abort the baby, that I was too young to bear the responsibility of bringing up a child.‘‘
Comfort said although she was terrified by the pregnancy she feared abortion. ‘‘I asked her what would happen if after aborting the baby I discovered later in life that I couldn‘t have children anymore,‘‘ she said.
She also said that when she told Nadum about the pregnancy, she denied it. ‘‘I told my boss I was pregnant and he told me it was none of his business,‘‘ she said, adding that she had to bear the shame of a growing tummy and curious stares of neighbours.
Recalling the circumstances in which she landed in prison, she said, “I think it was around January 10 when my boss called me on the phone to attend to a customer who had come to buy compressors. He had travelled out of Lagos. I went to the shop and met with the person. We negotiated a price but the customer didn‘t have the whole amount. I called my boss and told him, and he told me to collect what the man had and give it to the gateman. I counted the money, it was 95,000 naira, and I gave it to the gateman.‘‘
The next day, Nadum returned home but the gateman did not report for duty. ‘‘I went to a phone booth and tried the gateman‘s phone number several times but it was switched off. When I told my boss about it, he was very angry. The next day, policemen from Oko Oba Police station, Abule Egba came to the house and arrested me.‘‘
At the police station, another drama played out. ‘‘My boss told the policemen that he had lost N200,000 to me. He told them that it was because I had stolen the money from him that I started saying he was responsible for my pregnancy.‘‘ Comfort said she was three months pregnant at the time she was arrested.
The 17-year-old was arraigned at the Abule Egba Magistrate Court on January 26, 2010. Unfortunately, she had no one to pay for her bail in the sum of N50,000. Copies of the charge sheet made available to our correspondent revealed that the initial age filled for comfort was 17 years before it was cancelled and replaced with 18. But Comfort herself insists she is 17. The only person who can come forward with proof of the girl‘s age is her father in Rivers State who claims he is cash strapped and unable to make the trip to Lagos.
Efforts made by our correspondent to get Nadum’s reaction yielded no result as the voice that answered the calls our correspondent made to his phone repeatedly claimed it was wrong number. He also did not respond to text messages sent to his phone, forcing our correspondent to visit his residence at Plot 2 Owode Street, Abule Egba, Lagos. While the place looked deserted, two children who opened the gate after persistent knocks and and claimed to be Nadum’s niece and nephew, told our correspondent, after asking what her mission was, that Nadum was not at home.
Further effort made to get him on his MTN and Zain lines also yielded no result. “I am not Nadum,” a voice said on the phone and hung up.
GIRL OF 17 IN PRISON
Fellow nigerians,can sahara reporters and punch newspaper with our able reporter Ms Comfort Osaghale and man of God Pastor Benjamin Uzor of Chicago let us know the outcome of the case of our fellow citizen Ms Comfort [ 17 years old ] that was in in kiriki prison with baby monday.And where is Mr Nadom of 2 owode street,Abule Egba lagos.God bless united states of nigeria.
GIRL OF 17 IN PRISON
Fellow nigerians,can sahara reporters and punch newspaper with our able reporter Ms Comfort Osaghale and man of God Pastor Benjamin Uzor of Chicago let us know the outcome of the case of our fellow citizen Ms Comfort [ 17 years old ] that was in in kiriki prison with baby monday.And where is Mr Nadom of 2 owode street,Abule Egba lagos.God bless united states of nigeria.
against the child's right act
pls we need a legal means to help comfort with the belp of the children's legislative arm the childrens parliament promise to pass a resolution to the governor of lagos state fashola and the rivers state governor rotimi amaechi.and to the fedral minstry of women affairs and social development.we nigeria children have had enough of this child abuses and maltreatment of children in our home country.there is a law for totally protection of children like comfort in nigeria. its against the un convention on the right of the child and the africa charter of the right of the child also the the child's right act 2003 of nigeria.pls call for rapid help 08068497603.senator of rivers state of national childern's parliament abuja
This Is Disgusting
This is a shame on all Nigerian Leaders who looted billions of Naira from government covers and walking around freely in our community but lock up 17 years old abused baby girl...What do we learn from Nigeria jungle justice? "SHAME and CORRUPTION"
NIGERIAN MEN CAN DECEIVE TEENAGERS BUT CAN DECEIVE THE LAW
If this said allegation is true then, this allege child molester should be put behind bar for the rest of his life. This innocent girl have done nothing wrong than to follow his uncle to Lagos where she notion, she could be educated as well complete her education.
The victim of a child molester often spends the rest of his or her life dealing with the pain of the attack, while the perpetrator uses the molestation to channel emotional problems. Determining a proper penalty for perpetrators is difficult because most people fail to understand the full ramifications of child sexual abuse.
In every society children are required to do some work and such work may differ depending on the society involved. This type of work is an important part of a child’s basic education and a means of handing over necessary skills from parent to children. This kind of work is beneficial to the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development provided it does not interfere with schooling, recreation and rest.
This refers to sexual attraction towards the very young. A child may be either obliged or persuaded to have sex with an older person to fulfill the latter’s sexual desire and is a form of sexual abuse because of the immaturity of the child.
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT?
Child Abuse and Neglect may be defined as a situation in which
1.A child is suffering serious physical injury, which was not inflicted upon him by accident, but by a deliberate act or omission.
2.Is suffering harm by reason of neglect, malnutrition or sexual abuse.
3.Is going without necessary and basic physical care.
4.Is growing up under conditions, which threaten his physical and emotional survival
LAWS PROTECTING CHILDREN IN NIGERIA
1.The Nigerian Labour Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990 CAP 198.
The Act protects the child from being employed under exploitative circumstances or circumstances that may be injurious to his health. Under this Act a child can only do work of a light nature. It also forbids the employment of a young person under the age of sixteen years to work underground, on machine work or in any employment, which is dangerous or immoral.
2.The Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 CAP 77.
If Mr. Nadum crime fails under this law or violates this law as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution as he had brought this innocent girl under the auspices that, he was going to assist her and trained her in school which earns her in a high profile and renowned prison in Nigeria. Then he has cross the contour of human race.
Shame on our Men who use money as punishment
If this said allegation is true then, this allege child molester should be put behind bar for the rest of his life. This innocent girl have done nothing wrong than to follow his uncle to Lagos where she notion, she could be educated as well complete her education.
The victim of a child molester often spends the rest of his or her life dealing with the pain of the attack, while the perpetrator uses the molestation to channel emotional problems. Determining a proper penalty for perpetrators is difficult because most people fail to understand the full ramifications of child sexual abuse.
In every society children are required to do some work and such work may differ depending on the society involved. This type of work is an important part of a child’s basic education and a means of handing over necessary skills from parent to children. This kind of work is beneficial to the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development provided it does not interfere with schooling, recreation and rest.
This refers to sexual attraction towards the very young. A child may be either obliged or persuaded to have sex with an older person to fulfill the latter’s sexual desire and is a form of sexual abuse because of the immaturity of the child.
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT?
Child Abuse and Neglect may be defined as a situation in which-:
1. A child is suffering serious physical injury, which was not inflicted upon him by accident, but by a deliberate act or omission.
2. Is suffering harm by reason of neglect, malnutrition or sexual abuse.
3. Is going without necessary and basic physical care.
4. Is growing up under conditions, which threaten his physical and emotional survival
LAWS PROTECTING CHILDREN IN NIGERIA
1.The Nigerian Labour Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990 CAP 198.
The Act protects the child from being employed under exploitative circumstances or circumstances that may be injurious to his health. Under this Act a child can only do work of a light nature. It also forbids the employment of a young person under the age of sixteen years to work underground, on machine work or in any employment, which is dangerous or immoral.
2.The Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 CAP 77.
If Mr. Nadum crime fails under this law or violates this law as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution as he had brought this innocent girl under the auspices that, he was going to assist her and trained her in school which earns her in a high profile and renowned prison in Nigeria. Then he has cross the contour of human race.
Even after the DNA
Even after the DNA test...
God! will the oppressed in the Nigerian society ever have a voice?will the less privilege get to have access to liberal justice in this country? Does the government always have to intervene before an innocent gets justice? what kind of system are we operating in Nigeria? I m sick of....
Naija and there corrupt public officer
The case of this little is pathtetic,but the most painfull part of it is for the prison official to be saying they have medical facility to take care of the inmates and the nursing mother what alie!even those of us in the street are not well taking care just visit our hosiptals,no drugs,doctor are no where to be found,the health centre are death centre...yeye people.
about this lady some one should pls come to her rescue...may be News line you take up her case because this man that got her imprisoned may killed her and her baby...don't trust nigeria warder o....The NGO,xtian community and all other well meaning nigerians help this lady before it's to late
Do The Right Thing Fashola!!
We are willingly to do the right thing if it is proven that money was misplaced.But for now, that is not the main issue.Having a seveenth yr girl spend almost one yr in jail while awaiting trial and watching her her carry a baby she gave birth to in jail tells a lot about our society.This is why when black immigrants annoy Americans, their Radio talk show hosts will be asking them to Go back to where they came from.This is part of the stuff they see and when they do, they treat black people with a lot of disrespect.Our duty in life is to be our brothers keeper in times of need.How can the poor be so abused and it does not touch our heart to do something?Even if she took the money which has not yet been proven, what we are saying is that we are willingly to pay back whatever is missing, get comfort out of jail and send her back to her parents with enough money to support her and her chil.Just becos she comes from a poor home does not mean that she will perish in pain and suffering.
I call on one of the new generation Banks to open an account for Comfort Monday now.A lot of Nigerians in the U.S have been touched by this girls problem and they are willingly to help.Mr Nadum and his 200, 000 Naira he is claiming is what I dash my girlfriend when I visit Nigeria.It is nothing to destroy anybody's lifefor.
nadum guilty or Not
It is a sad story if all that has been said is true. If it is true let the arm of the. Law take it's course. But we must be careful before we make our conclusion. The girl could have taken the money also. This is an option that is possible. Can we prove that she did not take the money, when we can prove that she collected the money. This matter should be treated with caution especially when it is a case of your Word against mine. The only place I fault the whole thing is where a 17year child is allowed to be kept in prison. This is also subject to verification of her age claims. Let us all look before we leep
I read this case with tears
I read this case with tears in my eyes. What a jungle justice to my fellow lady. Please I would like to know her situation and how to render my own little help as she not only needs to be out from there but also needs care, for both herself and her child. This is how many innocent Nigerians are languishing in our prisons. We have become slaves in our own country. SHAME.
Nigerian Female Senators Act Now!!
Nigerian female senators should act right away against this type of abuse on women.This story is truly Sad and touching.Senator Iyabo Obasanjo this is a great opportunity for u to rehabilitate urself by capturing other female Senators in the Senate and house of Rep and heading straight to Kirikiri and bailing Comfort out right away.
Women in Nigeria have been abused and dehumanised for so long and this will be a real test case in stopping this type of rubbish in future.Over here in the states, if u touch ur own wife and she refuses and then u force her, the cops will come and bundle u out of ur own house and if she wants to deal with u, ur wife can press charges against u for rape.If u slap a woman here, u will go to prison right away just to mention but a few.Let us know how to reach Comfort pls.We have some serious hot cash to give her.Act my people.
FELLOW NIGERIANS ACCORDING TO OUR EX-PRESIDENT.
FELLOW NIGERIANS ACCORDING TO OUR EX-PRESIDENT. O.B.J.
PLEASE YOUB PEOPLE SHOULD HELP THIS INNOCENT GIRL IN THE NAME OF THY LORD AND REMAIN BLESSED.
REGARDS ERNEST FROM SPAIN. BARCELONA.
FOOL
I am Nick and I live in a well organised society on like Nigeria third world country where people behave like animals, you should shot up why would you talk like that. You are the bigest fool of the year
2 Owode Street, Abule Egba
2 Owode Street, Abule Egba
nadums house address
2 Owode Street, Abule Egba
You've done well to bring
You've done well to bring this to public attention. Please move a step further and set up an account for the Comfort and her baby, and publish account number.
BABY IN PRISON.
i BELIVE THIS KID IS VERY INOCENT. iF SHE HAS STOLEN A FAT SUM AS ALLEAGE BY HER BOSS/BEDMATE..SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE BAIL. i WRITE-UP APPEALS FOR HELP FROM FOLKS IN NIGERIA AND CHICAGO..WHAT ABOUT US IN HOUSTON,TEXAS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP?
I BELIVE THE KID..DNA IN NIG. DOES NOT WORK IF UR POOR. WE NEED TO JOIN HANDS AND GET THE KID OUT OF JAIL FIRST..OTHER THINGS WILL/CAN FOLLOW.
I need his address-Nadum
Please provide the bastard address, he is a dead man
I will contact my people in Nigeria to go take care of that bastard and take the girl back to her village.
17Year Old girl delivered in kirikiri Prison
Kindly furnish us with details on how to contact the girls lawyer and get her and her baby out of the prison first. Publish the story in NTA Newsline and AIT spotlight.
I want to believe that if she had stolen N200,000 as accused, she would have been able to pay her bail penalty. Is it not possible to believe that Nadum is a ritualist in one way or the other.
The evil that men do live with them. He has children and sooner or later, he will face the music he has started and the full weight of the law will be made to bear on him.
I am ashamed of Nigeria! The
I am ashamed of Nigeria! The story just shows the level of humsn rights abuse going on in that hell called Nigeria. Since the police had established that the girl stole the money what had stopped the police from arraigning the girl in court for her case to be determined as the law says? Now this is a case where the police had become the prosecutor and the judge at the same time! I am realy ashamed of Nigeria! And we say we have attorneys-general in all the states of the country (especially in Lagos in this particular circumstance). I am really ashamed.
Payment for Bail
I am very surprised that no details was included in the write-up how we can pay for the bail of this lady. Kindly include this please with the lawyer's details. I am making a pledge to pay for her bail immediately.
This is terribly inhuman!
This is terribly inhuman! Nadum should be in jail!! Now, think of a girl who hails from Rivers State, "flowing with crude oil" but who can't find money or sponsorship to be in school? I hope the Tompolos of Niger Delta are reading Comfort's story while their executive governors are busy executing mass looting.
Corrupt and Babaric Officials
First of all, the girl is not yet upto 18 years and the government, police and prison should be held accountable for violation of the girls human right through unlawful imprisonment.
There is no doubt naira has exchanged hands, and that might have encouraged the impunity without due reference and regard to the provisions of the law. Did the police listen to the statement of the girl? If not believable, so what? How can a thieft of that amount without violence and given all other circumstances around it, sinerely offended the inner professional conscience of the police and warders acting in this case?
By the way, the man that jailed his worker cum dependant relation because of that amount, how much has he paid her for the years of service she has rendered? According to St.Anthony's philosophy, if you steal from the rich, you have taken what belongs to you". Did the police weigh this parity before taking their corrupt and babaric stands?
Update - Nadum is planning to kidnap the baby!
According to a report on National Daily:
http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl...
Nadum in prison
We will try and do the ebst we can to get this girl out of this mess, but also we will not stop there but make nadum, the police force and others to pay for their sins.
How can they make this small girl to go through this hell.Lets do a DNA test and find out the true owner of the baby, if is Nadum he will have to pay for compensation.May God help him because himself will also stay in kirikiri when the truth comes to light.
girl in prison
Bail is N50,000 why don't you appeal for her to go on bail and raise money for her to return to her father,if you want to be concerned this is what you should do.
RE: 17YEARS OLD GIRL IMPRISONED AT KIRIKIRI!
Just reading this very sad piece!! Can we have an update on the story? Also can we have the contact of the lawyer handling the case on behalf of the girl? I will like to pay the bail money and stand as surety for her and pay the unfortunate uncle hos money to enable the case against this girl be dropped and she allowed to continue her life.
Its really a SAD story... One wonders what the agency in Abuja that is following up on the demented senator is doing inrespect of this case or what our 'picture loving' first ladies are doing that they can not step into something as noble as this.....
Proud To Be A Nigerian!
I am so proud to be a NIgerian! I did not beleive in my wildest dreams that there will come a time when a fellow Nigerian living in or out of Nigeria will show real empathy and fight truly in the sense of it for the poor and oppressed.God, I feel like a million Dollars! Things will change for the better in that country no doubt.
Comfort will surely be free, the next step will be how to rehabilitate her and the baby.I pray that Jonathan or Gov. Fashola will be touched to act on this disgraceful episode.I am so proud of the Journalists who initially brought this darkness to light in Nigeria.Thank you Pastor Benjamin Uzor.God will continue to bless u and ur family.Thank u to all the SILENT HEROES who help those in need without publicity.Let us shame our greedy politicians by being our brothers keeper.For all those who are touched to act on behalf of comfort and her child, I am so proud of u!My prayer is for you to be blessed more and more and more in Jesus name.Thank u Nigerians, I am proud to be a Nigerian!!
President Jonathan to the rescue
The president should come to the aid of tthis poor girl immediately and get the bastard Nadum in jail
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