Ondo court arraigns woman over alleged brutality on house help

A mother of four children and widow, Mrs Omoyeni Opeyemi, was today  arraigned before a magistrate court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, for allegedly brutalizing a boy Joel Sunday for allegedly stealing pieces of meat from the pot of soup .

It was earlier reported that the incident happened on Sunday at Adebowale Area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The defendant was alleged to have used stick and razor blade to inflict multiple injuries on the body of the victim. In a viral video, the 12-year -old boy was seen crying with marks on his body which indicated that his body was lacerated with razor blade while blood was on his body.

The 36-year-old widow, was arraigned on a five-count charge bothering on attempted murder, child abuse, violence against persons prohibition among others.

The defendant pleaded guilty to count one, four and five while pleaded not guilty to count three.

The Prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Tanimowo said the defendant committed the offence on February 6, 2022 at her resident located at Idimango Adebowale , Ondo road, Akure, the state capital

The prosecutor told the court that, the crime was reported to the police by one Mrs Alice Ayedun, a community health worker after she saw the boy writhing in pains with blood flowing from various parts of his body.

He said “Mrs Ayedun Alice was going to the church when she saw one Sunday Joel crying, with pool of blood on his body and the woman was forced to stop to see what was happening and she saw the defendant beating up the boy at the back of the house.

“She immediately rescued the boy from the woman. The defendant had asked the boy to wash the blood off his body after she used razor blade to cut his body and made open injury.

“In order to rescue the boy from the woman, Ayedun told her that she is a nurse and that she is taking the boy to hospital for treatment. The woman later took the boy to Fanibi police station to report the matter which led to the arrest of the defendant.

“At the police station, she confessed to the crime and that she observed that the boy had packed all the meats in her pot of soup. She said immediately the boy saw him he tried to ran away but she held him. She later took her to the sitting room where she used the razor blade to cut the various part of the boy’s body.

“The boy was later taken to the police clinic and currently under going treatment but still in critical condition.”

However, the Counsel to the defendant, Mr Gbenga Allen appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant was a first time offender.

In her ruling the Magistrate, Mrs O.A Edwin said the defendant was guilty of count one, four and five.

The court adjourned for sentencing and trial of count three till February 14. She however stated that the court had no jurisdiction to hear count two which bothers on attempted murder.

The magistrate also ordered that the four children of the defendant should be taken to children home for custody.

Speaking after the court proceeding, the Executive Secretary, Agency Against Gender Based Violence, Mrs Bola Joel said the case will be monitored to the latter in order to ensure justice .

“This is a wilful child abuse. The boy that was assaulted by a woman. If you see the boy, you will pity him. He’s presently at the hospital, groaning in pains, stitches all over his body.

“The perpetrator has pleaded guilty to the charges before the court. This will send a signal to the public that you are not supposed to abuse or assault any child put under your care.We will continue to monitor case like this to ensure that all our children will be safe anywhere they are.”