By John Oghojafor
The Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has rescued a 13-year-old boy from his abusive uncle who has been maltreating him for some time now. The Speaker also awarded the boy, identified as Chigozie Ogbu, a scholarship up to the university level.
Rt. Hon Oborevwori who coincidentally arrived the scene while returning from church service on Sunday met a rowdy crowd along the Osubi road as the community youth Chairman, Comrade Friday Okpako, was handling the culprit, Mr. Ifeanyi Akpa to the police.
According to the community youth chairman, Mr.Akpa and his wife have been abusing Master Chigozie for some time now, adding that the couple refused to continue to train him in school after he finished his primary school education.
Mr. Ifeanyi Akpa, a male and indigene of Onicha Igbeze of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, resides in in Osubi Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State with his wife and young Master Chigozie. He was caught red handed abusing his nephew and had inflicted bruises all over his body with blood bleeding from the back.
According to an eye witness, Master Chigozie does all the domestic work in the house, sells pure water during the day, yet he has been a subject of abuse by his uncle and his wife daily.
Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, after close examination of the boy, ordered that he be taken to the hospital for proper medical check-up as the boy could hardly stand straight anymore due to the injuries he sustained on his back from the frequent torture from his uncle and his wife.
Speaker Oborevwori, immediately directed the chairperson of the Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation Scholarship/Bursary Committee Chairman, Chief Mrs. E. E. Onokpasa, to award scholarship to Chigozie up to the University level to enable him continue his education. He said the Scholarship will run till the end of his university studies, promising to ensure the well-being of the boy.
As at the time of filing this report, Mr. Akpa is cooling his feet at the Orerokpe police station, pending a charge to court.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori on Monday, 25th of June, visited the boy in the private clinic where he is being treated for severe injuries inflicted on his body. The nurse on duty, Mrs. Irene Enakerakpo told the Speaker who was accompanied by the chairman of the Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation, Chief Mrs. Onokpasa, that the boy was responding to treatment.