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A Magistrate Court in Imo State, presided over by Chief Magistrate C.J. Nkwoada, s
haa sentenced Rose Okon to six months in prison for inflicting grievous harm on her 14-year-old niece, whom she was caring for.
In its ruling, the court stated that the convict could pay a fine of N50,000 instead of serving the six-month prison term.
Rose Okon pleaded guilty when she was arraigned by the police on a charge of assault.
The charge sheet read: “that you Rose Okon F, on the 19th of September at 1800 hrs at Umuneke, Ngor Okpala in the Ngor Okpala Magisterial district did assault one Favour Emmanuel, 14 years by pouring hot water on her head and body, which caused her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State of Nigeria.”
The prosecution counsel, Sampson Obodo, showed the court photographs of the injuries the convict inflicted on the minor, and tendered the statements made at the police by the complainant and the victim and that of a human rights organisation, Stand For Humanity Foundation, which initiated her arrest.
The Court, before sentencing Okon after her conviction, asked the convict to plead for allocution as she asked the court to have mercy on her.
The Counsel to the convict, Innocent Onyekwere, asked the court to be lenient in sentencing the convict.
Recall that the convict was arrested following a petition by a human rights organisation, Stand For Humanity Foundation.
The president of the Organization, Chidiebube Okeoma, who led over 20 members of the Organization to the court on Friday, told journalists that the organisation initiated the arrest of the woman to remind people that child abuse is a punishable offence in law.
Okeoma, a journalist and child rights advocate, said that the conviction and sentencing of the woman would serve as a lesson to all abusers of children.
Not a very kind thing to do! I think she belongs in the gaol (the aunt that is, not the niece) for some time!
How about the offender is required to pour a whole bucket of scalding-hot water over her naked body as part of her punishment? The 50K fine is a joke.
Only six months??? Only 50k??? The reason why shit like this keeps happening. Poor child
Only 6 months? And to add insult, there was an option of fine. The Chief Magistrate needs to be shamed and sacked.
Very stupid sentence. This was an attempted murder and so shouldn't attract such a lenient penalty.