An Owerri Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 38-year-old businesswoman, Mrs. Juliet Igwe, over horrific allegations of torturing her five-year-old housemaid, Onyinyechi. The suspect faces charges of attempted murder and grievous harm.
Court Proceedings and Serious Charges
On Thursday, Chief Magistrate B. U. Adikibe presided over the arraignment of Mrs. Igwe. The Imo State Police Command, acting on the authority of the Commissioner of Police, brought a one-count charge of attempted murder against her.
Police prosecutors informed the court that the offence carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment. Given the gravity of the charge, Magistrate Adikibe ruled that the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Consequently, she ordered that the suspect be remanded at the Owerri Correctional Centre. She also directed that the case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and further action.
Details of the Alleged Torture
The charge stems from an incident alleged to have occurred on November 25. According to information presented in court, Mrs. Igwe reportedly used a candle flame to burn the young victim's private parts, inflicting multiple injuries on her body.
In a further act of cruelty, the suspect is accused of using boiling water to scald the child's hands, causing severe burns. Shockingly, the court heard that the injured child was allegedly left to wander in a critical condition for several days before being rescued.
Rescue and Arrest by Human Rights Group
The case came to public attention following the intervention of the human rights organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation. The group reportedly discovered the child in a dire state and facilitated her rescue.
Led by activist journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, the foundation also assisted in the arrest of the suspect on December 4. They ensured Onyinyechi's immediate admission to the Imo State University Medical Centre in Owerri, where she is currently receiving urgent medical treatment.
The organization continues to advocate for the child’s full recovery and for legal accountability in the case.
Suspect's Reaction and Case Forward
Speaking briefly to journalists after the court session, Mrs. Juliet Igwe expressed regret over the incident. “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,” she said.
The case is now with the DPP's office, awaiting legal advice that will determine the next steps for prosecution in a higher court.
