A businesswoman in Nigeria’s Imo State has been ordered into custody following allegations of severe physical abuse against her five-year-old maid. Mrs. Juliet Igwe, 38, appeared before an Owerri Chief Magistrate Court, where she was charged with grievous harm and attempted murder.

The court heard that the child, Onyinyechi, sustained horrific injuries, including burns to her private parts inflicted with a candle and severe damage to her hands from boiling water. These alleged acts occurred on November 25, leaving the young girl in a critical state.

Prosecutors presented a one-count charge of attempted murder to the court, highlighting the severity of the alleged crimes. The police command, acting on the Commissioner of Police’s authority, brought the case before Chief Magistrate B. U. Adikibe.

Magistrate Adikibe ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to preside over such a grave offense, which carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Consequently, she ordered Mrs. Igwe to be remanded at the Owerri Correctional Centre.

The case file is now set to be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further legal review and advice. This procedural step is crucial for determining the next course of action in prosecuting the alleged abuses.

Reports indicate that the child was left in critical condition for several days before her rescue, drawing the attention of the human rights organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation. The foundation discovered Onyinyechi in a dire state and was instrumental in her subsequent rescue and medical care.

Activists from the foundation, led by journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, ensured Onyinyechi received immediate treatment at the Imo State University Medical Centre in Owerri. The organization continues to advocate for the child’s recovery and for justice in this disturbing case.

Following her remand, Mrs. Igwe briefly spoke to journalists, expressing remorse for the incident. She stated, “I didn’t know that this child would be in such pains. I didn’t know. It is only God that will judge me. I don’t know what came over me. I have been crying and praying for God to heal Onyinyechi.”

The intervention of Stand For Humanity Foundation was pivotal in bringing the case to light and facilitating the suspect’s arrest on December 4. Their ongoing efforts underscore the importance of civil society in addressing cases of child abuse and neglect.

The legal proceedings will now await the DPP’s opinion, which will guide the prosecution on how to proceed with the charges against Mrs. Igwe, ensuring that the alleged perpetrator faces appropriate legal consequences.

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Keywords: Imo woman child abuse, Juliet Igwe maid abuse, Onyinyechi burns, attempted murder charge Nigeria, Owerri court remand, child cruelty case Imo, Stand For Humanity Foundation, Nigerian legal system child welfare