Justice for Rosemary: Woman Bathed In Acid By Ex Seeks For Justice

A 25-year-old caterer, Rosemary Nnaife, was allegedly bathed with acid by her ex-lover, Paul, in the Lawanson, Surulere area of Lagos State.

Rosemary, whose face had been scarred since the incident, says Paul is  yet to be prosecuted. The victim explained that she was in a relationship with the accused for four years before the relationship ended due to domestic violence.

She stated that she got into another relationship, and the suspect subsequently got jealous. He allegedly began sending threat messages to her and her new boyfriend. The threat is said to have culminated in an acid bath after she was cajoled out of her residence in the Abaranje, Ikotun area of the state.

Nnaife, said she was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Surulere, by sympathizers, while Paul was arrested by policemen from the Itire division.

She said although the Directorate of Public Prosecutions ordered that the suspect should be tried at the Lagos State High Court, the case was still pending. Summarising her ordeal, Rosemary said:

“I dated Paul, for four years and I loved him. But the problem was that he was always beating me. He also embarrassed me in the public, so I ended the relationship. I got another boyfriend and moved on with my life. But Paul was angry and he attacked me. He got my new boyfriend’s number and threatened him. He also threatened me. But I didn’t take the threats seriously. Some days later, an unknown number called me and when I picked it, it was a woman. She said she wanted me to bake cakes for her and I should come down to Surulere. We agreed to meet at Lawanson bus stop.When I got to the bus stop, somebody touched my shoulder from behind. When I turned around, I saw Paul. He then poured the acid on me and ran away.”

She added that the matter was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

Punch, gathered that the suspect was arraigned by the police at the Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he was released on bail. Moreover, the case was said to have stalled. Nnaife, is currently seeking justice, saying she wants the suspect to pay damages and bear the cost of plastic surgery.

“He has been walking free, while I have been scarred for life. I want him to pay for this. I need the help of the government and the good people of Nigeria,” she added.

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The Director of the Lagos State Public Advice Centre, Tola Akinsanya, said the agency would revive the case to ensure there was diligent prosecution of the suspect.

She said, “The woman was allegedly bathed with acid by her ex-boyfriend on June 3, 2015, and he was arrested and taken to a magistrate’s court. When the DPP’s advice was released, it ordered that the case should be transferred to the high court.

“Although we are aware the case has been filed, it has yet to be assigned to any court since last year. We are working with the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender to assemble a team of lawyers to represent her. We must ensure that she gets justice.”

Akinsanya, added that the agency would also make efforts to get support from the state ministry of health for plastic surgery for Nnaife.

When will the issue of domestic violence be fully addressed in our country? Measures need to be put in place to tackle this menace.