A woman, Chinyere James , has been arrested by the police in the Okokomaiko division, Lagos State, for allegedly torturing her nine – year – old cousin, Emmanuel.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim had been wrongly accused by the 28 – year – old of defiling his three- year – old sister at their home on Akinberu Road , Okokomaiko.
The aunt , without investigation , allegedly flogged him for hours, as his plea of innocence fell on deaf ears.
A resident was said to have rescued him and reported the matter to the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender.
An official of the agency , who did not want to be identified , said the case was reported to the police .
She said , “The boy’ s mother , Joy , and the aunt, Chinyere , live in the same single – room apartment with their parents. Joy , who is 27 years old, had Emmanuel and the three year -old for different men.
“ Chinyere tortured the boy for an offence he didn’ t commit . Investigation showed that it was one of their neighbours that defiled the boy’ s three-year – old sister .
“ When the police interrogated Joy , she took responsibility for the injuries on the boy’ s body and lied that Chinyere did not touch the boy.
“ But the truth later came out . The police arrested her and her sister, Joy, while the two children were taken into protective custody . ”
Our correspondent was told that the three- year – old had been tested by Mirabel Medical Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja .
A report was still being awaited to ascertain the culpability of the neighbour.
The Director of the OPD , Mrs . Adebukola Salami , said government would not condone child abuse.
She said , “The Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for child abuse. This is a warning that it is irrelevant if the abusers are the parents of the child . Nobody is above the law. Child abuse is a criminal offence and abusers will be prosecuted . ”
It was learnt that the sisters had been charged before an Ojo Magistrate ’ s Court on counts of assault .
The charges read in part, “ That you , Chinyere James and Joy James , on or before September 24, 2017, on Akinberu Road , Okokomaiko, in the Lagos Magisterial District , did conspire together to commit felony to wit : indecent treatment of a child , thereby committing an offence .
“ That you , Chinyere James , on the same date , time and place , in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully assault one Emmanuel James by inflicting injuries on his body. ”
The defendants were said to have pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently admitted to bail.
The case was said to have been adjourned till December 13, 2017.
