A 38-year-old woman, Adaku Emeka, was on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly subjecting an 11-year-old boy to indecent treatment.
Emeka, who resides on Oseni Street in the Oshodi area of Lagos, is facing a single charge of indecent treatment of a child. She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, led by SP Josephine Ikhayere, the incident occurred on July 1 at the defendant’s residence.
Ikhayere told the court that Emeka allegedly burned the boy with fire from a burning nylon and also struck his head against a hard object, causing swelling to his head and body.
The offence, Ikhayere said, contravenes Section 135 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015, which prescribes up to seven years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of indecent treatment of a child.
Magistrate Lateef Owolabi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N280,000, with two sureties in the same amount.
The case was adjourned until August 28 for mention.