The Lagos state police command on Tuesday, March 19, arraigned a 37-year-old phone repairer, Abdulhafiz Adewale, before a magistrate court for allegedly flogging his four-year-old child with a belt and an electric wire.
The defendant, who resides at 4, Alhaji St., Ladega, Ikorodu, Lagos State, is charged with assault and causing grievous harm. The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb. 11 at his residence. Akeem also stated that the complainant and defendant’s neighbour, Babatunde Olowonisaye, brought the child to a police station.
Akeem said that the complainant saw the boy crying, with bruises all over his body, and asked what was the problem. The prosecutor said that the boy told the complainant that his father flogged him with a belt and an electric wire.
Akeem said the alleged offences contravene Sections 172 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.