By Praise Chinecherem
A former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Awka Branch, ECG Okechukwu Esq has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly engaging minors as sex workers in a brothel in Awka, Anambra State.
The accused who was arraigned at Awka Magistrate Court on charges bordering on sexual related offenses, was accused of procuring three underaged girls, aged eight to ten years from Ebonyi State and quartered them in his brothel at Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
He was alleged to have molested the minors and also offered them to his customers who patronize his brothel.
Anambradaily gathered that one of his customers had raised the alarm after noticing serious bruises on the body of one the girls when he tried to have her.
“When he questioned her about the bruises, she revealed that the bruises were inflicted on her in the brothel when she tried to resist the sexual molestation from other patrons.
“She supplied her parents phone number to the customer who immediately contacted the parents who stormed the brothel with police from Ebonyi State and arrested everyone found in the brothel along with the senior lawyer.
Narrating their ordeal, the victims said they were brought to Awka by one Ifeoma and Chika from their house in Izza, Ebonyi State on the promise of securing job for them but were later forced into prostitution.
A lawyer in Awka, who preferred anonymity, revealed that some concerned lawyers had written petitions to the NBA challenging the accused of practicing law and running a brothel at the same time.
He however said he was not sure of the outcome of the petitions.
The accused, also said to be holder of the prestigious Ozo Awka title is also alleged to be serving a one year suspension from the Ozo society of Awka for similar offense of alleged sexual defilement of 13-year old girl last year.
