Father Beat, Burnt 18-Month-Old Son With Cigarette In Osun

A 32-year old commercial driver, Mayowa Adeyemo, was arraigned before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo on Tuesday for battering his 18-month-old son.

It was gathered that the suspect had beaten the victim with sticks and burnt several parts of his body with lighted cigarettes on May 24, 2020, around 1.30 pm in Okinni because the victim who is his son will always refuse the suspect carrying him.

During the trial, the police prosecutor, Abiodun Fagboyinbo, told the court that the defendant assaulted the victim, inflicting series of injuries on the child.

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The persecutor, with evidence to prove Adeyemo guilty, added that the offence contravenes Section 33(1) (2) of the Child Rights Law of Osun State Nigeria as well as Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State Nigeria, 2002, and it is punishable by the law.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, alleging that he was under a spell by his mother.

When explaining what made him violently assault the little boy, Mayowa narrated, “I have five children from five women. I know I am under a spell. I have consulted several pastors who told me that my mother is responsible for my situation. I am a commercial driver.

“The boy I assaulted is my son from the fourth woman. When his mother got pregnant, we got separated due to the insistence of her family that she should not marry me.

“We later settled our issues, and we started living together this year. Ever since we reunited, my son would not allow me to carry him. I hate him so much, and on several occasions, I found myself beating the boy mercilessly.”

Delivering the judgment, the judge ruling the case, Magistrate Modupe Awodele, adjourned the case to July 24, 2020.

Module added that Mayowa should be remanded in the Ilesha Correctional Centre until the next hearing.