Woman jailed six months for pouring hot water on 14-year-old niece in Imo

A Magistrate Court in Imo State has sentenced Rose Okon to six months imprisonment for assaulting her 14-year-old niece by pouring hot water on her head and body.

The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate C.J. Nkwoada, however, gave Okon the option of paying a N50,000 fine instead of serving the six month prison sentence.

Okon was arraigned by the police on a charge of assault and pleaded guilty to the offence.

According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on September 19 at about 6pm in Umuneke, Ngor Okpala, within the Ngor Okpala Magisterial District.

The prosecution alleged that Okon poured hot water on the minor, identified as Favour Emmanuel, causing her grievous harm.

Prosecution counsel, Sampson Obodo, tendered photographs showing the injuries sustained by the girl, alongside statements made to the police by the complainant and victim.

A statement from the Stand For Humanity Foundation, the human rights organisation that initiated the process leading to Okon’s arrest, was also tendered before the court.

Before sentencing, the court gave Okon an opportunity to plead for mercy. She appealed for leniency, while her counsel, Innocent Onyekwere, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

The court subsequently convicted and sentenced her to six months imprisonment with an option of a N50,000 fine.

Okon had been arrested following a petition by the Stand For Humanity Foundation over the alleged assault on the minor.