Woman in court for setting her child ablaze in Lagos

A 34-year-old woman yesterday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleg­edly setting her 12-year-old foster child ablaze for stealing N1,000.

The accused, Uzoma Austin, who resides at Mile 12 area of Lagos, was docked on a two-count charge bordering on injuring by explosive substance and causing grievous harm.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, said the offence contravenes Sections 242 and 243 of the Lagos State Crimi­nal Code Law of 2011, which stipulates 14 and seven years imprison­ment for convicted of­fenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs Sule Amzat, admit­ted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties, one of which must be a family member and show evi­dence of tax payment to the Lagos State Govern­ment.

The Lagos State Do­mestic and Sexual Vio­lence Response Team (DSVRT) took up the case after the Ketu Police Station Family Support Unit informed them.

The Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs Titilola Vi­vour-Adeniyi, said they rescued the child and took her to the Lagos State University Teach­ing Hospital.

Adeniyi also assured that an arrangement for where the victim will live after treatment would be taken care of. She, how­ever, urged the people to report such unpleasant incidents around them.

The case was ad­journed till July 8 for further hearing.