Jenat Audu, a 13-year-old housemaid who was burnt with hot water by her caregiver, has been handed over to the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) handed over the teenager to the ministry in Kaduna.
A Magistrate’s Court sitting at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, had earlier adjourned the matter to 19th August 2021 to allow the Police to complete their investigation.
However, at the resumed hearing on Thursday, Magistrate Benjamin Hassan again adjourned the matter to 8th September 2021.
Speaking with journalists after the sitting, representative of the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barnawa Branch, Barrister Bukola Ajao, told journalists that the prosecuting team (Police) sought more time to enable them to talk to Janet Audu before they could go further.
According to her, “The matter came up today, August 19, for hearing but just like the last adjournment, the prosecutors asked for another date again on the premise that they have not seen the survivor enable them to interview her so that she can be heard in court.
“It was on that basis that the matter was adjourned. However, in between that request, we were made to understand that NAPTIP is also in the matter and that NAPTIP invited the defendants and her guardian to Kano.
“We also learnt that NAPTIP has released the girl to the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development and that is where we are now. The matter was then adjourned to September 8 for hearing,” she added.
Yusuf Marcus, 14, who is the 1st respondent, and his mother, Luthsi Marcus, 47, 2nd respondent, both residents of Narayi High Cost, Kaduna, are facing a three-count charge of cruelty, causing bodily harm without provocation and abatement of offender contrary to sections 207, 221 and 54 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State.
They had earlier been granted bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Daily Trust recalled that the teenage housemaid had burnt her caregiver’s soup sometime in July 2021, an act that angered the son, Yusuf, who poured hot water on the maid.
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