A 16-year-old seamstress apprentice, Cecilia Ukpa, has been arrested by the police for pouring hot water on her colleague over a disagreement.
Ukpa and the victim, Abigael Albert, live in the same residence with their boss on Meyiga Street, Ilogbo, in the Ajangbadi area of the state. It was learnt that a senior apprentice had instructed Ukpa to take the generator used in the shop inside on June 23 when they were about to close for the day.
Ukpa reportedly declined the order, giving the excuse that the boss had sent her on an errand. She was said to have told the senior to give the task to Albert. Ukpa’s suggestion reportedly angered the victim, leading to an altercation between them.
Ukpa, who is also a senior secondary school pupil of the Ilogbo Grammar School, said, “On the June 23, Abigael (Albert) and I were in shop when our boss sent me to go and wash plates. I wanted to wash the plates when one of my seniors sent me to take the generator inside. I told her that our boss had sent me on an errand; that she should send Abigael or another person.
“As I was going to fetch water to wash the plates, the senior dragged me back and slapped me repeatedly. Abigael too started abusing me and we fought each other. She inflicted injury on my face before we were separated.”
Our correspondent learnt that Albert had come to the kitchen to cook around 6pm the following day and met Ukpa boiling water. They reportedly kept each other at arm’s length.
While Albert was immersed in the cooking, the suspect reportedly turned the boiled water on her, scalding some parts of her body.
Ukpa was arrested by the police after the incident was reported at the Ilemba Hausa Police Division.
She was eventually brought by a police prosecutor, ASP Olusoji Ojaokomo, before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court on one count of assault.
The charge read, “That you, Cecilia Ukpa, on June 24, 2015, at about 6pm, on Meyiga Street, Ilogbo, Ajagbandi, Lagos, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Abigael Albert, 17, by pouring hot water on her body, which caused her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence before the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. P.A. Adekomaya.
She was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum.
“The surety must present evidence of tax payment and his/her residential address to the court for verification,” Adekomaya added.
The case was adjourned till July 22, 2015 for mention.