LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-A 30-year-old Nigerian mother has been remanded into custody for the alleged killing of her 8-month-old daughter using rat poison.
On Thursday, the accused Mercy Michael, stood before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, after she was charged with culpable homicide, contrary to Section 189 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
During court proceedings on December 11, the NSCDC Prosecutor, Mr Marcus Audu, told the court that a resident Godfrey Sunday, who lived in Fadia Bakut, around Zonkwa, a town in the Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna state, made a report of the sad incident to the Corps’ office.
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The Prosecutor, alleged that the accused on December 10, for reasons that are still shrouded in mystery fed her 8-month-old daughter with rat poison. Although efforts were made and the baby was rushed to the Zonkwa General Hospital but unfortunately, she died the next day.
Still addressing the court, Audu, added that the case was primarily reported to the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kafanchan, but for a comprehensive investigation, it was later transferred to the NSCDC.
Presiding over the case, Judge Samson Kwasu, citing a lack of jurisdiction, rejected the defendant’s plea and ruled for the accused, Mercy, to be remanded in a correctional facility.
In addition, he ordered that the Prosecutor redirect the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for more legal advice and adjourned the case to December 17 for further mention.
