Isioma accused her maid, Blessing, of having a sexual relationship with her husband, Mr Chigozie Ezeofor.
The incident happened in a residential apartment on Aunty Toyin Street, Kodeibo Estate, in the Isheri Oshun area of the Lagos State.
An eyewitness told Punch newspaper that Isioma had on Sunday returned home unexpectedly to found her husband caressing Blessing at their home. The sight simply enraged her and she beat up the girl before pouring a kettle hot water on her, scalding her in the process.
A Good Samaritan was said to have alerted policemen in the area to the incident, leading to the arrest of the couple. The victim was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.
It was reported that Blessing came to live with the couple only about six months ago. Both Blessing and the couple are from Imo State.
The hot water incident is just the latest item on the list of abuses that Blessing is alleged to have suffered at the hand of the couple since coming to live with them. She had been a victim of sexual abuse from the husband and of physical torture from his wife who delighted in beating for on any perceived offence.
A police source tells Punch: “Since she arrived at their house, it had been one assault after another. According to the victim, when she arrived, the man pretended to be interested in her welfare and asked if she was a virgin. She said when she told him that she was a virgin, he started touching her at every opportunity.
“The girl said one day, he attempted to have sex with her, and when he saw that penetration was difficult, he started having anal sex with her. The girl said each time he tried to do it, she would feel pains. She said the man would sometimes keep at it until she screamed and he would quickly withdraw.
“The victim told us that while the sexual assault persisted, she was helpless because she had nowhere to run to. She was a victim of trafficking. Her guardian had handed her over to the family and her salary was what they were using to send her to school. She is in Junior Secondary School three.”
Confirming the incident, police public relations officer, Chike Oti, says the the campaign of the state commissioner of police, Edgal Imohimi, against abuse of the girl child, women and the juvenile, was yielding fruit. He adds that the couple were in police custody and would be charged with trafficking and sexual assault at the end of investigations. He further encourages victims of domestic abuse and to speak up.
