Police Arrest Abia Director For Death Of His 10-Year-Old Maid

The Director of Administration representing the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in the Board of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Mr. Christain Onuoha, has been arrested by the police for the mysterious death of his 10- year- old housemaid.

The victim, Anurika Ngwakwe , was allegedly found unconscious in Onuoha's car in his house at World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia, on Tuesday, before she was rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

According to reports by Punch, the girl was bleeding from her mouth and private parts. The bleeding from her private part came with a whitish substance which prompted the doctors to rule it as suspected rape.

The police was then called in and the father of the child claimed the suspect's wife had boasted at the hospital that money will be used to "settle the matter".

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered the immediate removal of the suspect from ASOPADEC board.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr Anthony Agbazuere, who announced this at a press briefing on Thursday, said the measure was taken "given the nature of his alleged crime".

He said that the state Civil Service Commission had also been directed to  "take necessary action".

Agbazuere said, "Section 358 of the Criminal Code of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says the punishment for rape is life imprisonment. Since the victim is dead, the issue of murder comes in and the penalty for such offence is death by hanging."

Similarly, the International Federation of Women Lawyers had indicated interest in the case.

The Secretary of the Abia State chapter of FIDA. Florence Egwuonwu, said the organization would ensure justice was done.