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Miss Goodness |
Miss Goodness Moses has just finished the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu and came to Lagos for her one year Industrial Training (IT). The 26-year-old lady had actually approached Nestle Foods Plc for the training and was hopeful of being given the opportunity to serve in the multinational company, for her practical experience, before going back for her Higher National Diploma (HND).
Presently, verifications are going on in the school to know those who qualify for the HND. But the Marketing student may not have the opportunity again, at least, not for now. She is battling to ensure she doesn’t go blind, after she was allegedly hit and stabbed in the eyes by a businessman, Uzoma Nwezie. The incident occurred on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 6, Ajayi Street, Catholic Road, Ipaye, Iba Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Trouble started for Goodness, when she was trekking to Ipaye bus-stop that fateful day alongside one of her sisters. According to her, Nwezie, who was driving, almost ran over her if not that she ran into the bush where she fell flat.
The victim, who said it was the fall inside the bush that saved her from being crushed by Nwezie’s car told Daily Sun how she got up, cleaned herself and they continued their journey, only for him to reverse and challenged her for allegedly calling him devil.
“I didn’t call him devil, I only said, ‘it would not be well with the devil’. I even apologized to him and he still used sharp object to hit me in the jaw and I started seeing stars. My eyes later went blank and I started screaming for help. People tried to stop him from further torturing me but he refused. He tore my clothes and bra. The incident occurred between 7.30 and 8 pm. I lost my purse, money and the torn dress,” she said.
According to her, the businessman, his wife and group of boys stormed their compound, fuming with rage.
“He resumed the attack on me and even extended it to my father. That was the time he stabbed me in one of my eyes. Because of the hitting and the stab, I started vomiting blood and was quickly rushed to the El-Shaddai Hospital, Iba Town, but the doctors referred me to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). At LUTH, I was referred to St. Edmund Clinic and Eye Hospital, which later referred me to Eye Foundation, Ikeja, where they performed Rectinal detachment.”
After the operation, Goodness said she couldn’t see with one of the eyes, while the other one is getting worse.
“Pus is also gushing out from one of my ears,” she lamented. She was supposed to be going for medical check-ups and further treatment, but her alleged attackers have refused to take responsibility for that and refuse to show up.
“The condition of my eyes are deteriorating daily, and my parents do not have money to treat me. We have tried to compel Nwezie to take me to the hospitals, but he said the money he spent so far, was all he could spend and that the court would decide the case.”
After the incident, Nwezie was arrested by the Ojo police division and detained, before charging the matter to Ojo Magistrate’s Court. The accused is facing on a three-count charge. The first count charge reads: “That you Uzoma Nwezie ‘M’, Ogwuchukwu Okoye ‘M’ and others at large, on the 13th day of March, 2011 at about 7 pm, at No 6, Ajayi Street, Catholic Road, Ipaye Iba Town, in Ojo Magistrate District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit assault occasional harm and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 54(a) of the Criminal Code Cap. C. 17 Vol. II Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The second charge reads: “That you Uzoma Nwezie ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assaulted one Goodness Moses ‘F’, Aged 26, by giving her first blow on her eyes, which caused her harm and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap C. 17 Vol. II Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The third and last count charge reads: :That you Uzoma Nwezie ‘M’, Ogwuchukwu Okoye ‘M’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assaulted one Goodness Moses ‘F’ by giving her first blows all over her body, dragging her on the ground and in the process strip her naked and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 351 of the Criminal Code Cap. C. 17 Vol. II Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The embittered father of the victim, Moses Onyike, who spoke to Daily Sun is worried that his daughter might go blind, if she is not given adequate treatment. The man, who worked in the National Theatre before he retired, said Goodness is his only child in higher institution, adding that her condition now is capable of discouraging him from training others.
The case has been adjourned till June 1, 2011.
Source : www.sunnewsonline
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