Court remands Enugu couple for attempted murder of 10-year-old house help

A couple, Mr Jude and Mrs  Ifeoma Ozougwu, have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court  sitting in Enugu North  Local Government Area of Enugu State on a third count charge on attempted murder of their 10-year-old house help, Nneoma Nnadi, and ordered that  they  be  remanded in Correctional Service Centre,  Nsukka, pending legal advice by the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The couple  were arrested by the  Enugu State Police Command last weekend, over the alleged infliction  of injuries on the  girl.
Mrs. Ozougwu, 24, mother of three,  was alleged to have used a hot electric iron to burn parts of Nnoma’s body after piercing nails on  her head, and inserted  pepper on her private part.
The couple were charged with “unlawful attempt to kill, unlawful intent to harm and engage a little girl in hazardous, injurious and exploitative work against her physical and socio-psychological development.”
According to the court, the crime was committed between January and July 2020 at No 3, Akonameze Street, Thinkers Corner, Enugu.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Joseph Agu, refused to grant  the defendants  bail after their lawyer, Emeka Orji, moved for it.
He said: “In exercise of my discretion, the offence is grievous going by the count one and count three of the charges; even as the girl is still hospitalised 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 August 13 after hearing from the DPP,’’ Agu said. 
The police prosecutor and  officer-in-charge , legal services of the  Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Paschal Nwachukwu, had earlier argued that the court had no jurisdiction on the matter because of the gravity of the offences, especially count one and count three.
Nwachukwu said that going by the lack of jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court to entertain the matter, the issue of bail remained premature, uncalled for and against the dictates of the law.
“The evidences of this matter is grievous and weighty. How can one explain nailing a child as was done to Jesus Christ, using hot pressing iron, sharp and dangerous objects on her even to her private part?’’ Nwachukwu asked. 
The defence counsel of the couple prayed the court to discountenance the various public sentiments on the matter and grant bail to his clients.
Orji noted that the offence was bailable and prayed the court to use its discretion to grant the Ozougwus bail.
“This couple run a responsible family and I believe if they are granted bail; they will attend to court processes religiously.