Apprentice pours hot water on colleague in Lagos

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.
PUNCH Metro 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.