The Imo State Government on Thursday preferred murder charges against a 38-year-old Imo businesswoman, Juliet Igwe, over allegations of severe abuse that led to the death of her young maid.

Counsel to the state government, Fidelis Igbo, disclosed this before a Chief Magistrate in Owerri, B. U. Adikaibe, when he announced his appearance on behalf of the State Ministry of Justice.

An activist journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, who rescued the victim in Osina, Ideato North Local Government Area of the state, in December on behalf of his organisation, Stand For Humanity Foundation, also disclosed that the matter was brought for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) following a failed arraignment in December due to jurisdictional issues.

At the resumed court session on Thursday, Okeoma stated that counsel to the Ministry of Justice informed the court that the state had filed murder charges against the accused at the Uruala High Court sitting in Owerri, the state capital.

After being presented with the court documents filed at the High Court, the Chief Magistrate struck out the matter from her court, thereby granting legal clearance for the arraignment of the accused at the High Court on February 26 on murder charges.

The Chief Magistrate recalled that at the last adjourned sitting in December, the accused had been remanded at the Owerri Correctional Centre pending the advice of the DPP.

She noted that the offence attracts a penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction and stated that her court lacked jurisdiction to try the matter.

Okeoma, who produced the five-year-old victim in court on Thursday, told journalists that his organisation was working closely with the state government to ensure the full recovery of the minor and that justice is served.

He added that the wife of the state governor, Chioma Uzodimma, who visited the child at the hospital in Owerri on Wednesday, had assured that the victim would be fully rehabilitated and that justice would be pursued.

With the latest development, the arraignment and trial of the accused by the state government are expected to commence on February 26 at the Uruala High Court sitting in Owerri.

Okeoma further disclosed that the five-year-old minor lost three fingers as a result of the injuries inflicted on her and appealed for public support to ensure diligent prosecution of the case. (Nigerian Tribune)

•A picture showing the 5year old baby being carried in his arm standing by the right hand side with the Cousel to the State Government, founder of Stand For Humanity Foundation Chidiebube Okeoma .