Agony of 5-yr-old: How dangerous fury landed Imo businesswoman in prison

By Emmanuel Iheaka

OWERRI— Little Onyinyechi could be said to have begun early enough to experience the cruel side of life.
Except the miraculous happens, she will grow into adulthood to nurse and live with the scares of injuries inflicted on her body at the tender age of five. The trauma is likely to linger.

Prior to the last days of November 2025, Onyinyechi might not have imagined that one of biggest pains she may have passed through as a child would come from her aunty and guardian, Juliet Igwe, a 38-year-old businesswoman in Osina, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State.

The Imo State Police Command had arrested Juliet Igwe for allegedly using candlelight and hot water to inflict injuries on the private parts of Onyinyechi, said to be her maid over allegations that the minor stole meat from her pot.

The arrest followed an intervention by a human rights activist, Chidiebube Okeoma, who is the founder of Stand For Humanity Foundation.

The foundation had rescued the minor and petitioned the state police command, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Though the suspect was quoted as saying that she didn’t know her actions would cause grievous damages on the minor, the police arraigned her in a magistrate’s court on one-count charge of attempted murder.

The police prosecutor, S. Obodo had told the count that the offence was punishable with life imprisonment and asked the court to remand the accused in prison for not having the jurisdiction to trial the matter.

The Chief Magistrate, B. Adikibe, who noted that the court hadn’t jurisdiction to hear the matter, remanded the accused in Owerri prison and ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, in the state for legal advice and action.

The jurist thereafter fixed February 5, 2025, for DPP’s advice.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, Mrs. Nkechinyere Ugwu, who was in court, said she was going to brief the wife of the governor, Chioma Uzodimma, whom she said had interest in the matter.

At the return to the magistrate court on February 5, 2026, Fidelis Igbo appeared on behalf of the state Ministry of Justice and informed the court that government had filed a charge against the suspect bordering on attempted murder at a high court.

Consequent upon the development, the magistrate court, struck out the matter.
It was gathered that the accused will be arraigned at the high court on February 26, 2026. She, however, remains in custody while awaiting appearance in high court.

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