A 45-year-old woman, Mrs Ronke Shitta, who allegedly beat up her five-year-old granddaughter with a stick was on Tuesday brought before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court, Ikeja, Lagos.
Shitta, 45, who resides at Surulere, Lagos was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni on a one-count charge of the indecent treatment of a child.
Prosecuting Inspector Clifford Ogu alleged that the incident occurred at her residence on July 15 at around 2:00 pm.
Ogu said: “The grandmum indecently battered her granddaughter with a big stick, which gave her permanent marks. The neighbours said that was her usual way of beating the five-year-old girl and that she also sends her errands that were too much for her age.”
He told the court that the incident was posted on Facebook before some concerned persons reported it to the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The DPP referred the matter to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) which, on July 17, began the investigation.
According to Ogu, when a DSVRT team visited the defendant’s home to rescue the child and take her into protective custody, the defendant had fled.
The defendant’s husband, however, promised to bring her to the Gender Desk of the Police Command in Lagos the following day and he did.
“The child was subsequently taken into protective custody,” he said.
The alleged offence, the prosecutor added, contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Shitta pleaded not guilty.
Chief Magistrate Akanni granted her N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
She adjourned till August 2, for trial. - The Nation
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