Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Mrs Rebecca Omachi, has been accused of allegedly abusing her 10-year-old niece, Favour Makolo.

Mrs Omachi was said to have put a stone on fire for several hours, tied the hands of the little girl and placed the hot stone on top of her foot, for simply refusing to heed her warning not to go to school again.

The coordinator of one of the NGOs who reported the case, explained how Mrs Omachi was said to have been maltreating her niece.

“A case was reported to me by one of the committee members, a neighbour that this child has been suffering and that this is not the first time she is inflicting injuries on her.

“She will beat the child unnecessarily and sometimes she will starve the child. I also know that Child Right Act is domesticated in Kogi state and one of the acts is that a child has the right to quality education.”

On the other hand, Favour’s mother, Laruba Makolo, has called for a withdrawal of the case from the court, saying it will affect the stipend she is getting from Mrs Rebecca.

Giving account of the incident, she said: “My sister requested that she should come and stay with her, and since she is childless, I gave the child to her. What I was told was that the guardian burnt her leg with hot stone, and as I speak now, I am yet to ask my daughter what happened.”

However, 10-year-old Favour, is currently receiving medical attention from the Federal Medical Center Lokoja.

Meanwhile, Mrs Rebecca, is expected to appear before a family court, although some analysts are of the opinion that before then, she should be suspended from her office pending the determination of the case. (Channels TV)

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