A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Imo State on Friday sentenced Rose Okon to six months in prison for assaulting her 14-year-old niece, Favour Emmanuel, who was in her care.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate C. J. Nkwoada, however, gave Okon the option of paying a N50,000 fine in lieu of the prison term.
Arraignment
Okon pleaded guilty when she was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of assault.
The charge stated that Okon, on September 19, at about 6pm at Umuneke, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, within the Ngor Okpala Magisterial District, assaulted Emmanuel by pouring hot water on her head and body, causing her grievous harm.
Offence
The offence, according to the charge, is punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as applicable in Imo State.
Prosecution counsel, Sampson Obodo, tendered photographs showing the injuries sustained by the minor.
He also tendered statements made to the police by the convict and the victim, as well as a statement from Stand For Humanity Foundation, the human rights organisation that initiated the process leading to Okon’s arrest.
After the court convicted Okon, the Chief Magistrate asked her to make a plea for leniency before sentencing.
Okon pleaded with the court to have mercy on her, while her counsel, Innocent Onyekwere, urged the court to be lenient in imposing the sentence.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
