A manager with Yoppan Printing Company, Kaveh
Noine, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police
Command on Friday, for allegedly kicking his
pregnant subordinate,
Alexandra Ossai, in the
stomach.
The incident which occurred 2 weeks ago was said
to have caused the loss of the victim’s pregnancy.
Noine, a Lebanese, reportedly travelled out of the
country when policemen attached to the Area F
Police Division, initially went to the company to
invite him for questioning on Tuesday.
According to a Nigerian Eye report:
Following the publication, President Goodluck
Jonathan, had on Friday directed that the police
and the National Human Rights Commission
investigate the matter, expressing his
displeasure over the incident.
However, it was gathered that Noine was
arrested on Friday by the Lagos State Police
Command in Kano where he had fled to on
Friday and brought him back to Lagos.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer,
Ngozi Braide, confirmed the story. She said,
“Even before President Goodluck Jonathan
ordered an investigation into the case, the
Lagos State Police Command has been on it.
“In the course of our investigation, we
discovered that Noine was still in the country;
he had fled to Kano. Our men traced him to
Kano, arrested him and have brought him back
to Lagos.
“Presently, he is making his statement now at
the command. The issue of bail, has not come
up for now.”
Ossai had, alleged that Noine assaulted her
several times during her eight months stay at
the company. Noine had allegedly hit Ossai in
the chest a day before kicking her in her
stomach over some misdemeanor by those
whom Ossai supervised.
She also alleged that Noine was in the habit of
physically assaulting workers at the company
with anything he could lay his hands on,
whenever he was angry.
The 34-year-old mother of one was said to have
developed pains in her stomach which lasted
for two days before subsiding. The pains were
said to have begun again in the early hours of
December 16, 2013, resulting into an
emergency surgery at a private hospital at
Fagba.
Her seven-month pregnancy was allegedly lost
to the kick, as a result of a broken placenta.
Ossai’s appointment with the company was
allegedly terminated as a result of the incident
and two of her siblings who also worked there
were sacked.
Already, the Lagos State Public Advice Centre
has waded into the case and offered Ossai free
legal aid. The Public Relations Officer of the
centre, Mr. Alex Omorodion, said, “We are going
to liaise with other security agencies in Lagos
State to see this matter to a logical conclusion.
We also intend to visit the factory and talk with
other workers to determine if more people have
been abused by Noine. Then we will prosecute
Noine at the conclusion of our investigation.”
When reporters contacted Ossai, she said, “I am
really happy about the arrest. The rest is left to
the police and my lawyer.”
Gseven Empire 