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Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Source: lindaikejisblog

Court remands 17-year-old girl who burnt her boyfriend to death in Benue

The accused on the right and the victim on the left The accused on the right and the victim on the left

A 17-year-old girl has been remanded in a correctional centre by the magistrate court in Markudi for setting her boyfriend on fire.

The deceased, Chidinma Ikechukwu Omah was a medicine dealer who died of complications after been set ablaze by the accused.

The case which came for mention, on Tuesday, January 19, has the First Information Report read to the accused. The FIR, titled,’ Mischief by Fire and Culpable Homicide’ read in parts;

"That one Esther Alex ‘F’ of no 1, Zaki Biam street, Wadata Makurdi went to the house of Mr Chidimma Omah ‘M’, 28 years old, at No 17, Yandev street, Makurdi and poured petrol in it while he was asleep and set him ablaze.

"As a result, the room was engulfed in fire and burnt down the entire house property value not yet known together with Mr Chidimma Omah who sustained grave burns and subsequently died while receiving treatment at the hospital.”

The prosecutor, Inspector, Dominic Ochaba, asked that the accused be remanded in the correctional centre, Makurdi pending when the investigation into the matter is concluded.

Counsel to the accused, S.O. Obekpa, however, did not object to the prosecutor’s prayer but drew the attention of the court to the First Information Report.

"There is no objection to the prosecutor’s prayer but where and manner the fuel was kept," said Obekpa.

The lawyer, however, requested for oral application to be made in respect of the FIR but was declined by the magistrate.

The Magistrate, Regina Ochokwunu, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in the correctional centre and adjourned the case to March 5, 2021.