Housewife arrested for throwing out sister’s daughter

Firstclass newsline gathered that the police have arrested a
46-year-old woman, Mercy Akinsode, for allegedly throwing out her late
sister's daughter, Damilola.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Damilola, an indigene of Ekiti State,
was brought to Lagos some years ago after her mother died.
The nine-year-old, who reportedly did not know her father till her
mother died, was said to have been living with Mercy at their home on
Bajulaiye Road, Somolu.
Firstclass newsline learnt that last Friday, the victim was brought
home from school by the family's nanny, one Esther.
Esther was said to have bought some pieces of meat from the market and
asked Damilola to prepare them.
It was alleged that, while cooking it, the victim ate a piece and was
reported by Esther to her aunt.
The angry aunt allegedly threw Damilola out of the house.
Damilola was said to have been sighted wandering around in a market by
a Good Samaritan, who took her to the Alade Police Station.
Policemen from the division were said to have arrested Mercy.
In her statement to the police, Damilola denied eating from the meat.
She said, "While I was cooking the meat, I brought out the leftovers
of my lunch and was eating it when aunty Esther accused me of eating a
piece of meat. She reported me to mummy, who threw me out in anger and
said I should go and live anywhere."
Mercy, in her statement, also denied sending out her niece from the house.
She said she got a call in the evening from Esther that Damilola was
missing and she immediately alerted family members to look for her.
She said it was later she was told that the victim had stolen
something, which was why she ran away from the house.
Mercy was, however, arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate's Court
on one count of child abuse.
The charge read, "That you, Akinyode Mercy, on June 5, 2015, at about
8pm on Bajulaiye Road, Somolu, in the Lagos Magisterial District,
being a custodian of Damilola Akinsode, aged nine years, did
unlawfully send her away from home to an unknown destination and
thereby abandoning or exposing her to likely grievous harm."
The police prosecutor, DSP Godwin Anyanwu, said the offence was
punishable under Section 247 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of
Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Soladoye, admitted her to bail in the
sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till July 6, 2015.
Firstclassnewsline.net