Anambra State Govt Restates Resolve To Get Justice For Umunankwo Widow Ostracised By Relations…

The Anambra state Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court, has granted bail to relations of a widow from Umunankwo in Ogbaru Council area, who were arrested for allegedly ostracizing their widowed sister, Nneka Uzor.

Their arrest was facilitated by the Anambra state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo.

The suspects, who are standing trial for allegedly using masquerade to force a widow, Mrs Nneka Uzor out of Umunankwo community, were arraigned on a five-count charge, before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka.

When the charges were read and interpreted to the defendants, Messrs Lazarus Uzor, Anozie Uzor and Valentine Chukwuma Okwuosa, a brother to the widow, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe while ruling on the application for bail granted the defendants, Messrs Lazarus Uzor, Anozie Uzor and Valentine Chukwuma Okwuosa bail for the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand naira and reliable surety, in the like sum.

She added that the surety must be the traditional ruler of Umunankwo, the Parish priest of St Joseph’s catholic Church Umunankwo or the President-General of the community, adding that two recent passport photographs, and a valid means of identification, were among other bail conditions.

Reacting to the outcome of the court proceedings, , Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Mrs Obinabo expressed satisfaction with the decision of the court and promised to get justice for the widow and all Anambra widows going through such ill treatment.

The Commissioner went further to warn everyone to desist from any form of harmful traditional practices against widows in the state as such would not be tolerated as the government of Professor Chukwuma Soludo has zero tolerance for such inhuman acts.