37 year old man sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for setting pregnant wife on fire

A 37 year old man named Lucky Esonahae, have been sentenced to 5 years in prison custody with hard labour for setting his pregnant wife on fire.

Lucky, who is a bar operator, was arraigned on one count bordering on causing bodily harm.

In a court hearing at an Egor magistrate court, in Benin 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.

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 accused Mr Lucky Esonahae pleaded guilty to the offence, and asked for leniency.

Igho Braimoh, who is the presiding magistrate, 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.”

Source - Punch