°°°° They also poured pepper in her private part – Police
There was mild drama ,Monday morning at the Police Headquarters ,Enugu, Enugu State when the Ozougwu couple, Jude and Ifeoma who allegedly dehumanized their house help traded blames on who was guilty of the allegations .
10-year-old Nneoma Nnadi was allegedly dehumanized by the couple who drilled nail into her head; poured pepper into her private part and used hot pressing iron to inflict injuries on her body.
Engaging each other in a war of words at a police parade ground before they were moved to Magistrate Court for arraignment, the couple blamed each other for the maltreatment of the girl in their custody.
While Jude blamed Ifeoma, for maltreating the girl because he brought her after rejecting his wife’s move to bring her relations, the wife accused him of being the one that did the nailing on the head and inflicted other big injuries on the girl’s body.
However, at the Enugu North Magistrate Court I, the couple was arraigned, the Chief Magistrate, Joseph Agu, rejected the bail application made by the counsel to the accused, Mr. and Mrs. Ozougwu and remanded them in Nsukka Correctional facility pending further advice by the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
They were charged with unlawful attempt to kill, unlawfully intent to harm, and engaging a little girl in hazardous, injurious, and exploitative work against her physical and socio-psychological development.
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The three-count charge read: “That you Ozougwu Ifeoma and Ozougwu Jude between the month of April and July 2020 at No. 3 Akonameze Street, Thinkers Corner Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did attempt unlawfully to kill one Miss Nneoma Nnadi, 10, your house help by burning her belly, back and buttocks with hot electric pressing iron, nailing nails on several points on her head, which is capable of endangering her life and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 275 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Ozougwu Ifeoma and Ozougwu Jude, on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully and with intent to injure or harm Miss Nneoma Nnamdi,10, administer pepper substance in her private part which is noxious, poisonous and harmful and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 292 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Ozougwu Ifeoma and Ozougwu Jude, on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District being the guardian of Nneoma Nnadi, 10, did engage her in hazardous, injurious and exploitative work which is hazardous to her physical, social and psychological development and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 23(i) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, Law of the Federation of Nigeria as applicable in Enugu State.”
In ruling on the bail application by the defendant counsel, Mr. Emeka Orji, the Chief Magistrate said, “In exercise of my discretion, the offense is grievous going by the count one and count three of the charges; even as the girl is still hospitalized as well as the overwhelming public outcry; I reject the application for bail.
“I hereby remand the couple in Nsukka correctional facility pending further advice by the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The matter is adjourned until Aug. 13 after hearing from the DPP.”
