Man Jailed 5 Years With Hard Labour For Setting Pregnant Wife On Fire

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.

Punch