Uzoma Egemba, a guardian, has been remanded in the Owerri Correctional Centre for allegedly scalding his 12-years-old maid, Chimkamso Ekeocha, for riding his children’s bicycle.
P.C Nnoromole of Owerri Magistrate’s Court remanded Egemba on Wednesday after he was arraigned by the state police.
The jurist, who stated that she lacked the authority to hear the case, remanded the accused and adjourned the case until July 20 to hear the Department of Public Prosecutions’ report.
Though the accused’s counsel, K. U Alisigwe, argued that the magistrate had the constitutional authority to hear the case, the jurist insisted that she lacked the jurisdiction to hear it.
While Alisigwe pressed on, the magistrate reminded him that she was not recording him.
Counsel to the police, Ogechi who brought out a remand notice, agreed with the magistrate that she lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The police arraigned the accused on one count charge which read, “That you Egemba Uzoma, on June 26, 2022, at area L World Bank Housing Estate in the Owerri magisterial district did unlawfully and without justification wound one Chikamso Ekeocha by giving her multiple deep wounds on her back using a very hot frying spoon placed at a burning cooking gas and intentionally placed on her back which caused multiple maim on her back, got her disfigured and does gracious harm on her and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 332(1) of the criminal code cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.”
Egemba was arrested last week after a video recorded by the victim’s school teacher went viral.
The video showed the degree of injury allegedly inflicted on the minor by the accused.
Concerned Nigerians led by a social media influencer, Darlington Ibekwe, an activist journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, and others which included representatives from National Human Rights Commission and Joy Onuoha from Vulnerability and Rights Project Initiative, arrested the accused, took the minor to Imo Specialist Hospital Umuguma and championed the advocacy for her welfare.
The minor had been treated and discharged from the hospital after Nigerians came to her rescue including the state chapter International Federation Of Women Lawyers.