NewStats: 3,261,361 , 8,173,785 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 12:44 AM 2bv4f

By Tina Abeku, Abuja


There was confusion at the headquarters of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Abuja, where 18-year-old 200 level student of Baze University, Ifoema Obalum accused her father of sexual assault and resisted attempts by officials of the agency to forcefully hand her and the younger brother over to the accused.

The duo, had in December last year, ran to NAPTIP seeking protection from the father who is medical personnel at the State House clinic and a lecturer at the same Baze University, Abuja.

She accused her father of sexual assault, physical abuse and inflicting serious injuries on her 15-year-old younger brother since June 2020 when they began living with him. Before then, they lived in their maternal home after their mother and sole custodian died of cancer on May 21, 2018.

However, after a legal fight, the father was granted custody of Obalum and the younger brother by a Lagos family court.

The accused arrived at the headquarters of the agency with the court’s verdict along with his entourage, consisting of his legal representatives, some able-bodied men and a female who tried to take away the children who were handed over to them by the Rapid Response Unit of NAPTIP but failed to achieve his aim as the duo resisted the move.

NAPTIP said it couldn’t go against the court order, but the children resisted, crying and shouting that they would not return to the home of their ab, but would rather commit suicide. This drew more attention from ersby and onlookers as the Investigating Officer on the case in the Rapid Response Unit of NAPTIP; Mrs. Usafina Chimera attempted to drag the children to their father to be taken away.

When asked by journalists why the agency is returning the children to the alleged ab after coming to the agency for shelter, Chimera said: “What we do in the Rapid Response Unit is that when a complaint is lodged against someone, we go rapidly to rescue this person. When we received this complaint, we went to Baze University to where she stayed Mmaclocker with her brother to rescue her after her exams. Based on her statement, we commenced an investigation, and have taken the case to the legal department and it advise that there is no prima-facie evidence in prosecuting the case.

The girl, who has turned 18, is old enough to go further with the case. As an agency, we follow orders and the directives is that we should hand over the two of them to the father.”

On why she sought help from NAPTIP and their refusal to return to her father, Ifeoma explained that they had never really lived with their father until the ing of their mother shortly before she turned 18. She said their father came with policemen to their school to forcefully take them away from their maternal family’s custody, but failed and later sought custody through the court and it was granted to him.

She said: “I came to NAPTIP because I had to report to them a case of my father sexually assaulting me and physically abusing my brother, how he maltreats us, neglects us, and keeps us locked up in the house for three weeks with no form of communication to the world. No phone, internet, television, nothing.”

MEANWHILE, lawyers to the defendants, who work with PUNUKA attorneys and solicitors led by Ebele Enida has written a petition letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the matter.

A document made available to The Guardian reads “Petition against Dr. Dike Obalum for physical and Sexual Assault on his biological daughter, Miss Ifoema Obalum and Chukwuemeka Obalum.

The lawyers are urging President Muhammadu Buhari to use his office to investigate the matter and protect the children.

https://guardian.ng/news/drama-at-naptip-as-daughter-accuses-father-of-sexual-assault/

Provide evidence and nail his life down if he truly assaulted her sexually..
No one deserves to be assaulted sexually..it's a very big crime that musn't go unpunished...

If what she said is true then I hope she get justice..

Modified:who are the bunch of blockheads quoting and asking me what if the allegation ain't true and what is gonna happen to her if it's false..
Did you not really read my statement if she has evidence
No one should disturb me if what I wrote up there is too hard to understand..

And if you boys think you can come at me for standing up for whats right and countering what's wrong by quoting me and telling me gibberish about the law not in favor of men then I tell you ain't ok..
Women are being raped on a daily basis but this individuals always find a way to play the victim card by saying the law is against men..
Pls deal with what I said personally..I am not here to say what you want to hear..

Why do we have so many perverted individuals these days? Shame!

I know these people are from Anambra state

Oh no, I doubt if that man sexually abused that girl.

This country na cruise aswear! Children escaped home but can't even get refuge with authorities. Even an 18-year old adult has to be handed over to her father against her wish? That's unlimited license to the man to continue doing whatever (if true). The president has to be petitioned to take action?

this can only be the Almighty South East doings. They've create a niche in this than any other tribe in west Africa

This is unspeakable crime

Nkan nbe

Incest here and there
Toor

NAPTIP wants to handover an 18 year old adult to another adult. Is NAPTIP mad?
Father wants to take his children and he's using Policemen. Does that even make sense?
If that man is alone with his children in the house, they can kill him and that will be the end of Solomon Grundy.

Hmmm it’s a crazy world



Anyway, Agriculture is life.

Agricmoney:
Hmmm it’s a crazy world



Anyway, Agriculture is life.

I am a witness. Fact

FERNANDEZISBACK:
Provide evidence and nail his life down if he truly assaulted her sexually..
No one deserves to be assaulted sexually..it's a very big crime that musn't go unpunished...

If what she said is true then I hope she get justice..

And you dont think the man could be innocent. A lot of kids these days act wild when on drugs or want to get noticed. Tgey throw caution to the wind

FERNANDEZISBACK:
Provide evidence and nail his life down if he truly assaulted her sexually..
No one deserves to be assaulted sexually..it's a very big crime that musn't go unpunished...

If what she said is true then I hope she get justice..

And what about if what she said is not true, what justice will there be for the dad? I guess that line of thought never occured to you because he is a man right? And here you are already talking about nailing down his life.
Why do you people always assume the man is guilty in every sexual assault accusation.

headSmasher:
I know these people are from Anambra state

Anambra state gbuo gi dia.

Not by force

The kids don't just love the father

Full if shame

Olosho father

millomaniac:


And what about if what she said is not true, what justice will there be for the dad?

Wait till it ain't true..

These days some dad are guilty

Men are just rapists. So sad

Chaii
Wetin man no go see for this world
All these people creating rules up and down there are the wan spoiling it in private and they will be pretending

The story might not be true although I don't molestation and rape but the family might be having issues with children based on what their has planter in the children's mind. I don't think a reasonable father will want to maltreating his children.

Yawa dey

Hmmm

The children must be protected by the government by their evil father. Handing them over to him by force is illegal under Law. The man is evil!!!!!