A Magistrate’s court in Owerri, Imo State capital, has ordered the remand of a 38 -year -old business woman, Juliet Igwe, at the Owerri Correctional Centre for using candle light to burn her five year-old maid’s private parts.
Apart from using candle wats to destroy the minor’s Virgina, the accused also used boiled water to peel off the child’s hands and used candle light to inflict multiple injuries on the girl’s body.
A journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, who was in court and whose organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation rescued the child and is seeking justice for the minor reports that the accused was arraigned by the commissioner of Police in the state, Aboki Danjuma, yesterday , Thursday on one count charge bordering on attempted murder.
Okeoma disclosed that the charge read in part, ” that you Juliet Igwe, 38, and others now at large on the 25th of November 2025, at Oha in Ideato North LGA in the Owerri magisterial District did with intent unlawfully to kill one Onyinyechi Madueke, age five years by using candle flame wax to burn her Virgina and forced her to put her two hands in a boiling water that did (cause) her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 320 of the criminal code CAP 30, volume 11 law of Eastern Nigeria 1963 as applicable in Imo State of Nigeria.”
The Journalist informed that the police prosecutor, S.O .Obodo, told the court that the offence was punishable with life imprisonment and asked the court to remand the accused in prison for not having the jurisdiction to commence trial on the matter.
When questioned by the court, the woman admitted having committed the offence but said that she didn’t know that it was going to be that grievous.
In her ruling, the Chief magistrate, B. U Adikibe, agreed with the prosecutor that the crime was punishable with life imprisonment if convicted . She also agreed that she doesn’t have the jurisdiction to commence trial on the matter.
She therefore remanded the accused in Owerri Correctional facility and ordered that the Case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution,DPP in the state for legal advise and action.
The jurist thereafter fixed February 5, 2025, for the report on DPP’s advice.
While the accused had no legal representation in Court , Mirraim Ogbu, watched brief for the state ministry of justice.
The commissioner for women affairs and vulnerable groups in the state, Nkechi Ugwu was in court and said that she was going to brief the wife of the governor, Chioma Uzodinma, whom she said had interest in the matter.
A human rights organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation had on December 2, rescued the child from her guardian in Osina in Ideato North LGA.
The group led by a journalist, Okeoma, facilited the arrest of the accused and admitted the minor at the Imo state University Medical center in Owerri where she is currently being treated by doctors.
Okeoma disclosed that medical investigations revealed that the child would undergo two major corrective surgeries owing to the injuries the accused inflicted on the five year- old.
The Journalist, disclosed that his organization is committed to ensuring that justice was served and the child regains her health.
