Delta activist seeks appearance in child sex exploitation suit

A Delta State-based child rights activist and member of the Take It Back Movement Nigeria, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, has filed a notice and grounds to appear in person at the Family Court Division of the state High Court, Ughelli Division, in a suit he instituted to seek justice and protection for a 15-year-old girl allegedly trafficked by her mother for child sex exploitation.

The activist is seeking assessment and police protection for the 15-year-old alleged victim of sexual exploitation (name and identity withheld).

Comrade Aghogho said, “I am acting on behalf and in the interest of the affected child. Provisions of the Delta State Child Rights Law 2008, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empower me to so act.

“Specifically, I am relying on Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights.
“Additionally, Sections 4(1) and 5(1) of the Delta State Child Rights Law 2008, Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Child Rights Act 2003, and Order 7 and 7(b) of the Model Family Court Procedure Rule 2018 empower me as a party to the case, to act on behalf and in the interest of the child and seek protection and justice in court.”

The Family Court Division of the High Court in Ughelli has exclusive jurisdiction over child-related cases, as stipulated in the Delta State Child Rights Law 2008. Specifically, Sections 142 and 155 of the law grant the Family Court Division this authority.

Aghogho added that he is also “exercising his right to self-representation to appear in-person in this case.”
To support this, he cited a Court of Appeal judgment in Daramola vs. Nigeria Police (CID), Idimu Police Division & Ors (2019) LPELR-46503(CA) where the appellant in the aforesaid case (Daramola), a non-lawyer, was allowed to file a brief, argue on both law and fact before the Court of Appeal.

Furthermore, he said Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) emphasises that decisions made by the Court of Appeal are enforceable throughout the federation and must be respected by all authorities, persons, and subordinate courts.

The case is slated for November 22, 2024, and it highlights the need for protection and support for victims of child abuse and exploitation in Nigeria.

Recall that in October, PUNCH Metro had reported that the victim was allegedly taken to a suspected sex trafficker at the Beeland Hotel by her mother.

She however managed to escape from the sex trafficker when he went to the bathroom and found her way to her friend’s house where she spent the night before reporting to the proprietress of her school the following day.

Consequently, the human rights activist was contacted and he reported the case to the police, who subsequently arrested the suspected mother and ordered the victim to be in custody of her proprietress until investigations were concluded.

It was in the attempt to protect her fundamental human right, and seek justice for and protection of the victim that Oghogho approached the Family Court Division of the Ughelli Division of the Delta State High Court, especially after medical tests conducted on the victim showed that she had been sexually molested.