Enugu man sent to prison for allegedly killing 11-year old houseboy

• Onyeukwu, aged 47, was arrested following a tip-off from one of the Ministry’s whistle-blower channels

In Enugu State, One Anthony Onyeukwu has been remanded for allegedly killing an 11-year old houseboy, Goodluck John.

The Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Enugu East Magisterial District ordered the remand of the suspect.

The Enugu State Government said the arrest and arraignment of Onyeukwu was in line with its effort to rid the State of all forms of child abuse.

Onyeukwu, aged 47, was arrested following a tip-off from one of the Ministry’s whistle-blower channels.

The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu Mrs. Ngozi Enih, disclosed that the whistle blower attributed Goodluck John’s death to abuse in the hands of the family where he lived with as a houseboy.

However, Mr. Onyeukwu was said to have quickly conveyed and had the remains of the 11-year old boy buried in the boy’s hometown in Abia State without reporting his death to the appropriate authorities.

Although he was said to have claimed that the boy had died from an ailment at the Park Lane Hospital, Enugu, there was no record to show that the boy was admitted in the hospital or that his corpse was deposited in the hospital’s morgue.

Arraigning the suspect last week , the Police Prosecutor- Inspr Calista Ifeanyi, told the presiding Chief Administrative Magistrate, Ngozi Edeh Anih that Mr. Onyeukwu had committed an offence punishable under the Criminal Code (Revised) Laws of Enugu State.

The charge sheet marked: CME/631C/2024 read, “That you, Onyeukwu Anthony ‘m’ on 15th day of October, 2024 at about 20:30 hours at No. 4, Mike Onyeka Close, Loma Linda Extension, Maryland, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully kill one Goodluck John ‘m’ aged 11 years and thereby commited an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code, CAP 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”

The Chief Magistrate subsequently ordered the suspect’s remand in the Correctional Centre, Enugu and, adjourned the matter to 20th November, 2024 when the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Enugu, is expected.