by Oge Okonkwo

A 21-year-old woman, Rebecca Bassey, was arrested and charged to an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday, over the alleged murder of a 3-year-old girl.

According to the Prosecutor, Frank Inah, Bassey had reportedly committed the crime on July 22 at about 4.00 p.m at her residence,  No.158, Power Line St. Ijaye, Ojokoro, Lagos state.

Insp. Inah said the father of the victim had accommodation problems and begged his younger brother who is the husband of the suspect, to allow two of his children including the deceased to live with them.

The Nation reports:

The Magistrate,  Mr A.O. Akomolafe, remanded the accused, pending the outcome of an advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

‘’The deceased took ill, vomiting and defecating on herself, the mess irritated the accused and she beat her up. In the process  of the beating, the deceased hit her head on a chair and started bleeding in the nose.

‘’The child was immediately rushed to a nearby general hospital and was later transferred to LUTH where she was confirmed dead on July 23.

‘’One  Mrs Kudirat Ogunseye, a woman leader at Jankara area of Ijaiye Ojokoro, reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested,’’ Inah stated.

The prosecutor said  that the offence contravened section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The Defence Counsel,  Mr Olabisi Coalhole, pleaded with the court to grant bail to the accused, arguing that it was a case of domestic accident and not murder as presented by the prosecutor.

No plea was taken and the magistrate adjourned the case till Oct 2 for mention.