The Lagos State Police Command on
Friday arrested Kaveh Noine, a manager with Toppan Printing Company, who
allegedly kicked his pregnant subordinate, Alexandra Ossai, in the stomach two
weeks ago, causing her to lose her pregnancy.
Noine, a Lebanese, travelled out of
the country when policemen attached to the Area F Police Division initially
went to the company, to invite him for questioning.
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 in a
December 24, 2013 publication,
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 tummy 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 contacted Ossai, she said, “I am
really happy about the arrest. The rest is left to the police and my lawyer.”
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