The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Monday has decried the delay in the commencement of the investigative public hearing in the House of Representatives to unravel the circumstances that led to the alleged rape and eventual death of 14 year old boarding student of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja (PALA), Late Miss Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akphagher.
Based on a medical report from Queen Clinic, Keren-Happuch died on June 22, 2021 after the condom left inside her by a killer-rapist infected her with sepsis, which spiked her blood sugar, compromised her immunity, leading to her death by hyperglycemia.
HURIWA noted that following a motion moved by Hon. Mark Gbilah on the floor of the House of Representatives on December 7, 2021, the House resolved to conduct an Investigative public hearing into the rape and death of Keren-Happuch.
The House also directed the Inspector General of Police to conduct a DNA test for all male staff of Premiere Academy, Lughbe-Abuja and march it with the dead spermatozoa found in Keren’s urine.
HURIWA said that after over eight weeks of the resolution, the House of Representatives seems to have developed cold feet about enforcing or implementing its own resolutions.
HURIWA in a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said; “We appreciate the far-reaching resolutions of the House of Representatives to uncover the alleged rape and death of Keren-Happuch.
“HURIWA is concerned that eight weeks after these resolutions were made, the House of Representatives seem to have developed a cold feet. This is surely not good for the image of the green chambers. This seeming reluctance and delay can only achieve one thing – help the alleged killer-rapist to buy more time and evade justice.
“In case the import of their resolution to conduct investigative public hearing on the matter is lost on the lawmakers, HURIWA wishes to point out that a public hearing will go a long way in reminding management of schools all across Nigeria and beyond that they are accountable for whatever happens to a child entrusted in their care in line with the principle of in loco parentis.
“It will further clean up the Aegean stable and the oozing odour in the global community that Nigeria as a Sovereign nation does not care about her Children.
“The public investigative hearing by the House of Representatives will also demonstrate the resolve of the green chambers to help curtail the alarming rise in sexual violence and particularly child sexual abuse in Nigeria. They cannot afford to delay anymore as this will send a wrong message to the Nigerian people as to their seriousness to address this societal malaise,” Onwubiko said.
HURIWA also called on the House to urge the Inspector General of Police to protect the Executive Director of Men Against Rape Foundation and Leader of the Coalition of Gender Based Violence Responders, Lemmy Ughegbe, whose life has been under alleged threat for seeking justice for Keren-Happuch.
The statement further stated; “All security agencies and people of good will must continually support the work Ughegbe has been doing to address Sexual and Gender Based Violence generally and provide access to justice for victims, survivors and their families”.
