For inflicting bodily injuries on her maids, an Ilorin-based business woman is facing court charges of child abuse as UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB narrates.
Following a recent news report by Blueprint Newspaper that a 48-year-old woman, Bilikis Yahaya Mohammed of House 114, Mandate Estate area of Ilorin Kwara state allegedly inflicted burns on two of her housemaids for not flushing toilets after use, the reports have continued to generate ripples amongst some concerned residents of the State of Harmony.
Poser
When the news broke out, many some resident could not believe until they saw the gory sight of the bodily injury
But whether the accused is guilty of the alleged offence or not, that is for the court to determine as the matter is now before an Ilorin Chief Magistrate Court.
However, while resident await the pronouncement of the court on the disturbing situation, some resident have continued to ask some questions as to whether the accused has biological children at all or whether she is a mother and also if she lives with the said husband. Another question that people have also asked is what the parents of the victims are and what they do for a living. These and many more questions are on the lips of residents of Ilorin as they continue to ruminate over the incident.
Revelations
To find answers to these questions, further investigation conducted by Blueprint correspondent in Ilorin revealed that the accused who had been remanded at the Federal Prison yard Ilorin actually is a mother and has children.
Surprisingly, it was gathered that she is also living together with those children of hers as well as the housemaids at her residence in Ilorin. Sources also revealed that this woman who does business had lived in Saudi Arabia before she eventually relocated to Nigeria to settle down.
Concerned whistle blowers
Blueprint recalls that the accused, who is said to deal in nylon materials business at Mandate Market along Western Reservoir road Adewole area of Ilorin was arrested following tip off by some concerned neighbours who observed that the victims were walking with difficulties.
Upon, interviewing them, the victims were said to have reluctantly opened up that their mistress inflicted injuries on them for not flushing toilets properly.
A source who does not want his name mentioned in print, told Blueprint that some concerned persons reported the matter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following which she was arrested on Friday and detained at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin.
“We have also informed International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) about it for necessary action,” the anonymous source said.
Other sources in the suspect’s neighbourhood also informed Blueprint that parents of the victims have been contacted.
The source said one of them hails from Ilorin and the other from Nupe tribe both from Kwara state, according to available information.
The sources however said both parents of the victims have denied that their children were given out as maids.
Rather, they alleged that the suspect took the custody of the victims with the understanding that she wanted to assist them by funding their education.
NSCDC begins prosecution
Having conducted investigation on the matter, the Kwara state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has begun the prosecution of the accused with her arraignment before an Ilorin Chief Magistrate court on a three-count charge of child labour, cruelty to children and causing hurt contrary to Sections 28(1) of the Child’s Right Act, 2003; 238 and 248 of Penal Code Law.
The NSCDC’s operatives arrested the accused following a complaint on October 10 at the Intelligence and Investigation department, Kwara state command Headquarters, Ilorin by one Mr Issah Adebayo of Plot D28, Basin Staff Quarters Area, Ilorin that the accused inflicted injuries with hot knife on her housemaids.
First Information Report
According to the First Information Report (FIR), investigation conducted at the NSCDC office, Ilorin revealed that the accused abused the victims, Aisha Bakari (12) of Ita-Ogunbo area, Ilorin and one Hauwa (14) both of whom were domestic servants to the accused by inflicting bodily injuries on them with the use of a hot knife.
The FIR stated further that both victims were physically abused by the use of the hot knife on their thighs and bottoms thereby causing grievous bodily hurt on them for using toilet without flushing as alleged by the accused.
The prosecutor, Barrister Ajide Peter Kehinde of the legal department, NSCDC, Kwara command informed the court that the alleged offences were not ordinarily bailable; therefore, he urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the determination of the case.
As court pleases
The trial Chief Magistrate, Mr Abdulganiyu Mustapha, acceded to the submission of the prosecutor as he ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prison Yard, Oke-Kura, Ilorin until the next adjourned date while the court adjourned the case till October 23 for further mention.
