Date: 2019-10-19

A Kwara State Chief Magistrates' Court sitting in Ilorin has remanded a 48-year-old housewife, Bilikis Mohammed, in the Federal Correctional Centre, Ilorin, for allegedly inflicting injuries on two housemaids with a hot knife.

Bilikis, of House 114, Mandate Estate Area, Ilorin, was arraigned before the court on three counts of child labour, cruelty to children and causing hurt to two housemaids put in her custody for not flushing the toilet after use.

The prosecution alleged that the offences were contrary to Section 28 (1) of the Child's Right Act, 2003, and sections 238 and 248 of the Penal Code Law.

The accused person, according to the prosecution, was arrested by the personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on October 10 following a complaint by one Mr Issah Adebayo of Plot D28, Basin Staff Quarter, Ilorin, that Bilikis inflicted injuries on her housemaids with a hot knife.

The First Information Report stated, "Investigations conducted by the NSCDC office in 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 of the accused, by inflicting bodily injuries on them with the use of a hot knife.

"Both victims were physically abused by the use of the hot knife on their thighs and buttocks, thereby causing grievous bodily hurt to them for using the toilet without flushing it as alleged by the accused."

Bilikis pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Kehinde Ajide of the legal department of the state command of the NSCDC, said the accused might jump bail if granted bail by the court.

He urged the court to remand Bilikis in a correctional centre pending the determination of the case.

The accused person was not represented by a counsel.

Chief Magistrate Abdulganiyu Mustapha ordered that she be remanded in the Federal Correctional Centre, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, until the next adjourned date.

He subsequently adjourned the case till October 23, 2019, for hearing.