Tina Amanda
A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded one Oluchi Nkemjika, a 35 years old woman in prison custody for pouring hot water on her maid, a nine-year-old girl.
The woman was said to have unlawfully caused grievous bodily harm to the minor, by pouring hot water on her for making her soup get soured, at 25 Paradise Avenue Egbelu, on 7 November 2021, an offence contrary to section 332 (1) of the criminal code Cap 37, VOL 2, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
She pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her in court, claiming that the little maid poured the hot water on herself.
She claimed further that the maid had also dipped her hand and collected meat from the food her husband previously remained.
Chief Magistrate Sotonye Harry, after hearing the case said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter and remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned to 6 December, for Director of Public Prosecution advice.
In an interview with our correspondent, Counsel representing FIDA, Sophia Afolayan said the suspect should be charged for attempted murder as the little girl’s condition is critical with severe damage done to her kidney.
“We are ready to follow this matter to a logical conclusion. This woman should not just be charged for grievous harm, this offence is to the extent of Child labour and child abuse. If she really wanted house help, she should have gotten someone who is of age and not to bring a child.
“She maltreated the child, gave the child grievous injury on her body, not even caring about the poor little girl’s life, she left the child like that for three days without proper medication attention. FIDA is willing and ready to follow the matter to a logical conclusion.”
