Court Grants Bail To Woman Accused Of Inflicting Severe Burns On Minor
A Chief Magistrate in Imo State, C.J. Nkwoada, granted bail on Friday to Peace Jonah, who is accused of causing significant bodily harm to a 14-year-old girl, Chilaka Osinachi.
The defendant was arraigned by the police on a single charge of inflicting grievous harm on the minor.
Jonah was arrested in August by operatives of the State Criminal Investigations Department in Owerri, following a petition submitted by the human rights organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation.
The police prosecutor, Sampson Obodo, informed the court that the defendant allegedly used hot water to inflict burns on the minor’s breasts and other areas of her body.
Obodo contended that the actions of the accused were illegal and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, laws of Nigeria, and requested that the court remand her in custody.
In response, the defendant’s counsel, Innocent Onyekwere, petitioned the court for her release on bail.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate set bail at N500,000, along with the requirement for recent passport photographs and verification of the surety’s residential address.
The charge sheet states: “That you, Peace Jonah, on the 21st day of August, 2026, at Umuamadi Nguru Mbaise, triable in the Ngor Okpala Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Chilaka Osinachi by pouring hot water on her belly and breasts, causing her grievous harm, thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as applicable in Imo State.”
Chidiebube Okeoma, president of the human rights organization that initiated the arrest, issued a statement in Owerri on Sunday, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to combating all forms of child abuse in the state.
Okeoma, a journalist and child rights advocate, asserted that using hot water to harm a girl is a criminal offense. He noted that bail does not equate to exoneration and affirmed that his organization would pursue the court proceedings to their logical conclusion.
Okeoma also revealed that Stand For Humanity Foundation became aware of the abuse through its whistleblowing policy, encouraging the public to continue reporting incidents of child abuse to the organization.
