A woman, Eunice Agboye, was yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates Court, Lagos for allegedly inflicting multiple injuries on her 11-year-old ward with an electric wire.
Agboye, was arraigned before Magistrate O.A Daodu.
According to a source who is familiar with the alleged crime, the defendant was said to have beaten her victim severally with the weapon over a missing N1,000 when she sent him on an errand.
The police had arraigned Agboye a resident of Ganiyu Estate, by Igbolomu Bus Stop, Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos state and was said to be a guardian to the victim.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of ill treatment of a child which attracts a seven-year jail term, according to Section 135 (1)(2) of the law.
The charge read, “That You EUNICE AGBOYE on June 24, 2022, at about 2200hrs at No 3. Oshinteye Street, Ketu, Lagos in Magisterial District did unlawfully and indecently deal with one 11-year-old boy by beating him with an electric wire and inflicted serious injury on his bottom and all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 135(1) of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”
The prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Bassey, told the court that Agboye committed the offence on June 24 on Oshinteye Street, Ketu, Lagos.
Bassey said that the defendant unlawfully and indecently dealt with the 11- year-old by flogging his buttocks with an electric wire.
He said, “The victim, who has been living with the defendant for over three years, was sent to go and buy something and was given N1000.
“He returned to report that the money got lost and was beaten badly by the defendant.
“The victim sustained serious injuries on his buttocks and other parts of his body,” Bassey added.
During court sitting, Magistrate Daodu asked journalists to step outside because of the presence of the victim in court who is a minor.
According to the field staff of the Domestic Sexual and Violence Response Team, Mrs Bello Oluwakemi said that the culprit was remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Center.
She said, “The defendant pleaded not guilty to the crime and her counsel, Akhanolu Blessing asked for her bail, but the Magistrate turned down the lawyer’s request.
“The magistrate remanded the defendant pending the advice from the Director of Public Prosecution and the matter was adjourned until July 14, 2022.”
