A Magistrate Court in Imo State has sentenced a woman, Rose Okon, to six months in prison for assaulting her 14-year-old niece by pouring hot water on her.
Chief Magistrate C.J. Nkwoada handed down the sentence after Okon pleaded guilty to the charge of assault.
The court, however, gave her the option of paying a ₦50,000 fine instead of serving the six-month prison term.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on September 19 at about 6:00 p.m. in Umuneke, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
The charge stated that Okon poured hot water on the head and body of her niece, identified as Favour Emmanuel, causing her grievous injuries.
The offence was said to be 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, the prosecution counsel, Sampson Obodo, presented photographs showing the injuries sustained by the teenager. He also tendered statements made to the police by the complainant and victim, as well as a statement from the Stand For Humanity Foundation, a human rights organisation that initiated the arrest.
Before sentencing, the court allowed Okon to make a plea for leniency. She appealed to the court for mercy.
Her counsel, Innocent Onyekwere, also urged the court to be lenient in sentencing his client.
Okon was arrested following a petition submitted by the Stand For Humanity Foundation over the alleged assault of the teenager.
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