By Kayode Adeoti
For allegedly inflicting knife burns on minors, (names withheld), 48 -year-old Hajia Bilikis Yahaya Mohammed is currently cooling her heels in Federal Prison yard, Oke Kura, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Kwara State juvenile court presided over by Magistrate AbdulGaniyu Mustapha ordered the remanded of the defendant yesterday, following her appearance before it.
The defendant was said to have used hot knife to cause multiple injuries on the minors who were her housemaid.
Mohammed was dragged to court on 3-count charge of child labour, cruelty to children and causing hurt, contrary to Sections 28(1) of the Child’s Right Act, 2003; 238 and 248 of Penal Code Law.
According to the First Information Report, the defendant was arrested by the operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a complaint on 10th October at the Intelligence and Investigation Department, Kwara State Command Headquarters, Ilorin by one Mr. Issah Adebayo of Plot D28, Basin Staff Quarters Area, Ilorin.
The complainant alleged that the defendant inflicted injuries with hot knife on her housemaids for not flushing toilet after using it.
As a way of punishing the housemaids, the FIR disclosed that the defendant used the hot knife on their thighs and buttocks.
Investigation conducted at the NSCDC office, according to the FIR, revealed that Mohammed abused the victims, by causing bodily injuries on them.
The Prosecutor, Barrister Kehinde Ajide of the Legal Department, NSCDC, Kwara State Command, informed the court that the alleged offences were not ordinarily bailable and that court should order the remand of the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the case.
He submitted further the defendant may jump bail of granted and that she may abuse it by committing similar offence.
Chief Magistrate Mustapha in his ruling, acceded to the submission of the prosecutor, as he ordered that the Mohammed be remanded at the Federal Prison Yard, Oke-Kura, Ilorin until the next adjourned date.
The court adjourned the case till October 23 for further mention.
