A Magistrate Court in Imo State has sentenced Rose Okon to six months in prison for assaulting and inflicting grievous harm on her 14-year-old niece, 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 serving the prison sentence.
Okon pleaded guilty to the assault charge when she was arraigned by the police.
According to the charge sheet, the convict committed the offence on September 19 at about 6:00 p.m. at Umuneke, Ngor Okpala, within the Ngor Okpala Magisterial District.
The charge alleged that Okon “did assault one Favour Emmanuel, 14 years, by pouring hot water on her head and body,” thereby causing her grievous harm.
The prosecution said the act constituted an offence punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as applicable in Imo State.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Sampson Obodo, presented photographs showing the injuries sustained by the teenager.
He also tendered statements made to the police by the complainant, the victim and representatives of Stand For Humanity Foundation, the human rights organisation that petitioned the authorities over the incident.
After the court found Okon guilty, Chief Magistrate Nkwoada invited her to make a plea for leniency before sentencing.
Okon pleaded with the court to show her mercy, while her counsel, Innocent Onyekwere, urged the magistrate to temper justice with mercy in determining the sentence.
The court subsequently sentenced her to six months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N50,000 fine.
Okon’s arrest followed a petition filed by Stand For Humanity Foundation, which raised concerns over the alleged assault of the teenager and called for official intervention.
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