Man jailed for setting pregnant lover ablaze
An Egor Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo
State, on Monday sentenced one Lucky Esonahae to five years
imprisonment for setting his pregnant lover ablaze.
The 37-year-old bar operator was arraigned on one count bordering on causing bodily harm.
The charge read, “That you, Lucky
Esonahae, on July 6, 2015, at Uwelu Quartres, Benin, in the Egor
Magisterial District, did cause grievous harm to one Stella Isaac, by
setting her on fire with kerosene, which cause her bodily harm and,
thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 355(B) of the
Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II, Law of the defunct Bendel State of
Nigeria, 1976, as applicable to Edo State.”
The prosecuting officer, Sergeant Ganiyu
Yahya, told the court that the incident occurred at Uwelu Quartres in
Benin, and was reported by the victim, Stella Isaac, on July 6, the same
day it occurred.
Yahya said Esonahae had poured kerosene
on the head of the woman, who was said to be seven months pregnant, lit a
match and set her on fire.
He
said that the victim was later rescued by one of her sons and her
neighbours, who forced the door of her room open, as she had been locked
in.
He said the victim, who was later rushed
to the Central Hospital, where she received treatment sustained burns
on her hands and forehead.
The police prosecutor also told the
court that Esonahae had earlier accused the pregnant woman of infidelity
for allegedly returning at about 6pm from her ante-natal care and had
threatened to kill her, before she ran to her sister’s residence.
The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and begged for leniency.
But the presiding magistrate, Igho
Braimoh, said the court would not be lenient, adding, “for a 37-year-old
man to set a lover on fire leaves much to be desired.”
She, therefore, sentenced him to five years in prison with hard labour.
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