After 2 wks in prison, court grants 48-yr-old bail for inflicting knife burns on minors

By Kayode Adeoti

After spending two weeks in prison custody, the Kwara State family
court, presided over by magistrate Shade Lawal, yesterday, ordered the
release of one Hajia Bilikis Yahaya Mohammed who allegedly inflicted
knife burns on minors, from the Federal Prison yard, Oke Kura, Ilorin.
For the defendant bail condition, the court requested a level 14
officer who must equally be her family member.
The court however fixed 13th November, 2019 for the arraignment of
parents of the minors, and the continuation of the defendant’s case.
Recall that the 48 -year-old woman allegedly used hot knife to cause
multiple injuries on the children who were her housemaid.
She 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 use.
As a way of punishing the housemaids, the FIR disclosed that the
defendant used 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, Barr. 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 that the defendant may jump bail if 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 Mohammed be remanded at the Federal
Prison Yard, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, until the next adjourned date.