NAN-H-20
Niece
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Aug. 23, (NAN) A 34-year-old man, Seyi Shodiya, was on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court Lagos for allegedly maltreating his three-year-old niece.
Shodiya, who lives at Ikotun, near Lagos, is facing a charge of indecent treatment of a child.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rapheal Donny, told court that the accused committed the offence on May 30 at his residence.
Donny said the accused assaulted the child by beating her severely.
“After beating up the girl because she defecated on her body, he flung her to the floor, causing her grievous harm,’’ he said.
Donny said the child was rushed to a hospital at Ikotun but was later referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where she received treatment.
“The girl was in comma for about two months and was revived after she underwent a brain surgery. She was later moved to an orphanage.”
The prosecutor said that the case was reported at the Ikotun Police Station by the girl’s aunt while the authorities of LASUTH reported the matter to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Abegunde said the sureties should pay N30, 000 into the chief registrar’s account and that they should also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She said the case file should be duplicated and sent to the office of the Lagos State director of public prosecutions for advice.
Abegunde adjourned the case until Oct. 9 for trial. (NAN)
LAW/EOB/SN
===========
Edited by Edith Bolokor/Silas Nwoha