While it is natural and cultural to use corporal punishment to correct children when they do wrong and go scot free in Nigeria, Two Nigerian
Nigerian couple have been jailed for seven years each in London, with the UK press calling them all sorts of names.
According to DailyMail the Nigerian couple, who claimed their kids were possessed by evil spirits, were found guilty after British celebrity, Michelle Collins gave evidence against them.
They beat their children with brooms, hoovers and wires and even gave their baby a morphine overdose just days after her first birthday.
'If I don’t get enough house work done, I am beaten without mercy with the wooden end of a broom. I have scars all over me to prove it. I can’t stay here. I would like a new mum.'
It was found by a neighbour who called the police, and when officers attended the address they found the children living in messy conditions with 'dirty' and 'dishevelled' clothing.
Revealing scars the eldest said her mother had hit her with a cable, a broom, and a hoover and her father had dangled her by her feet down the stairwell of the house, tied her hands behind her back and her legs together 'to get the devilish spirits out', prosecutor Emma Smith said.
Her sister, who was seven at the time, had a stick shaped bruise of her thigh and after a few months in care, she drew a series of pictures showing her dad beating her and her being left home alone and including a speech bubble saying ‘I’m hungry.’
They had even been forced to lie to a charity and social services that they were living alone with their mother in one room and had no idea who their dad was so they could scam benefits.
Even during the trial the eldest feared she had torn her family apart with her 'devastating cry from the heart in the form of a letter which she threw from the window', the judge noted.
There was an investigation but no further action, and the five children remained in care until the parents once again came to police attention on 28 June last year, when they gave their baby an overdose.
'But for the events of June 28 you would have gotten away with your crimes because of a merciful decision not to prosecute you', Judge Patrick noted.
The couple's sixth child, a baby girl, was also initially taken into care but then returned to her parents. They took her to St Thomas’s Hospital just days after her first birthday last year.
Without treatment she could have died but doctors managed to save the youngster, who it is believed was given morphine orally that morning.
Jurors rejected the parents conspiracy theories.
When they are released the face deportation back to Nigeria - despite pleas from their legal team that they have been 'punished enough' by having their children taken into care.
As they left the court they wailed: 'We are innocent, this is a miscarriage of justice.'
According to DailyMail the plight of the children was so bad that Miss Collins, who met them at a church lunch, took them to the cinema 'because she felt sorry for them'.
She gave evidence as a prosecution witness during the trial of the parents, both 40, who cannot be named to protect their six children.
But the parents claimed they were victims of a conspiracy - and even alleged Miss Collins was involved in a witch hunt against them and wanted to ‘steal’ their children.
Haringey Civic Centre in Wood Green. The Nigerian couple's baby had been allowed to stay in their home by Haringey Council
Judge Patrick said: 'No-one who sat through this trial could help but be moved by the fact that these intelligent, charming, fun, lovable children continue to love you despite what you put them through.'
The married couple denied the allegations claiming they were victims of a racist witch-hunt but were found guilty of cruelty to a person under 16.
But Judge Patrick noted: 'You alleged a conspiracy involving a well-known actress, who had done nothing but show your family generosity and kindness, a member of a housing charity, social workers and foster carers.
'Those who had taken the trouble to support you were repeatedly accused of dishonesty, lying, and conspiracy to rob you of your children when the reality was that both of you were lying - in fact they ware simply seeking to give your children stability.'
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CORRECTION.. There is nothing natural about beating children. Cultural phenomenon?? not sure of that,there is nothnig cultivated, educated, or aspirational about it. Habitual phenomenom? yes definatly, one that needs to be addressed and rooted out of society along with the other destructive evils in Nigerin society
ReplyDeleteSexual abuse
Spousal Abuse
To an extent I believe in corporal purnishment. But that's talking about the occassional spanking and flogging. But not to the extent of scarring your kids. I was flogged probably not more than 5 times by my parents in my entire life and I never thought they hated me because of that and I can say it made me a stronger and better person.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of this family, the parents are obviously "not okay in the head".
Brooms, hoovers and wires-all saying different no doubt. Has no one heard of the The Cassel? obviously not.
ReplyDeleteOral morphine???? No scientists amongst you. Again obviously not . far,far too many questions about this case. as in The case of Sally Clarkeand Jayden Wray ALL will be revealed.
There's beating children as a punishment, then there's torture. This is the latter!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent example for the Nigerian legal system. About week ago a similar thing happened in Nigeria were you reported about a woman who did the same thing to her kids but in this case she killed one of them. Please we would like to know the what the current position is.
ReplyDeleteThis evil vice is one of the setbacks our Nigerian society suffers as this invariably affects the psyche of the child/ children involved.
ReplyDeleteThat serves them right, if they hate teir children i wonder who they love, both of them are animals and should be treated as such, they should be taken to a psychiatrist.
ReplyDelete