Contrary to the insinuation in some quarters that the police wanted to compromise the case involving a couple that allegedly caused grievous harm on their 10-year-old house help, the police has charged the culprits- Ozougwus with unlawful attempt to kill, unlawful intent to harm and engaging a little girl in hazardous, injurious and exploitative work against her physical and socio-psychological development.
The crime which was committed between January and July 2020 at number 3 Akonameze Street, Thinkers Corner, Enugu climaxed when a picture of the young girl surfaced online with injuries all over her body after the police successfully rescued her.
The Chief Magistrate, Joseph Agu, who presided over the matter, refused to admit the defendants to bail.
“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 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,’’Agu said.
Earlier, the prosecutor, CSP Paschal Nwachukwu, said that the court had no jurisdiction on the matter going with the gravity of the offences especially count one and count three of the offence.
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, who is the officer-in-charge legal services of Enugu State Police Command, said.
The defence counsel of the Ozougwus, Mr Emeka Orji, however, 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 the court should use it discretion to grant the Ozougwus bail.
“This couple run a responsible family and I believe if they are granted bail; they will attend to the court processes religiously,” he said.
Speaking to Newsmen earlier at the command’s headquarters before the suspects were taken to court, the commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Abdurrahman Ahmed said the arrest of the couple followed a petition by a lawyer on the 1st of July, 2020 and the men of command from Area Command, Metro, moved in and rescued the girl who was in a very bad condition.
The CP frowned at the allegation from some quarters especially some NGOs that uses serious case like this for their personal gain, that the command was trying to compromise the case and wondered why anyone will even think along that line in a case of this magnitude.
What a wicked world we are