40-year-old Jide Ozougwu and wife Ifeoma, 24, who drilled nail into their 10-year-old housemaid Chinonye Nnadi’s head have been remanded in jail without option of bail.
The couple hit the public eyes after videos and pictures of the battered Chinonye surfaced on social media, showing pressing iron marks on her body and holes on her head (see why here).
The State Police Command had the couple arrested on Saturday and arraigned them before a Magistrate court sitting in the North Magistrate District, Enugu on three-count charge of attempted murder on Monday.
The counsel to the couple, Emeka Orji, appealed to the Court to put aside public sentiment attached to the case and grant the couple bail as they have two little children to look after.
The Police Prosecutor, CSP Paschal Nwachukwu, however, argued that the bail request is premature, uncalled for, and against the dictates of the law, adding that the evidences are too grievous and weighty. He argued further that the magistrate court lacked the jurisdiction to hear such a case.
“The evidence of this matter is grievous and weighty. How can one explain nailing a child as it was done to Jesus Christ, using hot pressing iron, sharp and dangerous objects on her even to her private parts,” he said.
The presiding Magistrate, Agu, refused to admit the couple on bail and ordered that they be remand in the Nsukka correctional facility pending further advice by the state’s Director of Public Prosecution. The case was then adjourned till August 10 for a report of DPP’s advice.
