The police in Awka on Thursday charged two nursing mothers before the Children Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, over alleged assault.

The defendants are Chidinma Aguguo and Jennifer Ikem, both residents of 24, Gabriel St., Idabor, Umueri Community in Otuocha.

The duo are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and assaulting a girl with canes in a viral video circulating online.

They, each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on May 4 at Otuocha in the Anambra East LGA.

They were alleged to have committed the offence alongside others now at large, by willfully assaulting a victim, Udealor Onyinyechi, and inflicting visible injuries on her with a cane.

She alleged that the police subsequently identified and arrested the defendants after the video circulated widely on social media.

Defence counsel, S.O. Iwuoba, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, noting that they were first-time offenders and nursing mothers with infants.

The chief magistrate, U.E. Onochie, consequently, granted the defendants bail of N500,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

Mr Onochie adjourned the case until June 17 for a hearing.

(NAN)