An Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded a 21-year-old housewife, Rebecca Bassey, in prison custody over alleged murder of a three -year-old girl.
The Magistrate, Mr A.O. Akomolafe, remanded the accused, pending the outcome of an advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Frank Inah, had told the court that the accused committed the crime on July 22 at about 4.00 p.m. at her residence.
Bassey, of No.158, Power Line St. Ijaye, Ojokoro, Lagos is facing a one-count charge of murder.
Inah said that the father of the dead girl had accommodation problem and handed two of his children, including the deceased to his younger brother Mr Vincent Bassey, who is the husband of the suspect.
‘’The deceased took ill, vomiting and defecating on herself, the mess irritated the accused and she beat her up. In the process of the beating, the deceased hit her head on a chair and started bleeding in the nose.
‘’The child was immediately rushed to a nearby general hospital and was later transferred to LUTH where she was confirmed dead on July 23.
‘’One Mrs Kudirat Ogunseye, a woman leader at Jankara area of Ijaiye Ojokoro, reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested,’’ Inah stated.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Olabisi Coalhole, pleaded with the court to grant bail to the accused, arguing that it was a case of domestic accident and not murder as presented by the prosecutor.
No plea was taken and the magistrate adjourned the case till Oct 2 for mention
