The state filed a four-count accusation against the pair.
Busola Oyediran and her boyfriend, Akebiara Emmanuel, have been charged by the Lagos State Government before the Ogba Magistrates Court for allegedly torturing and beating their two children (names withheld), who are five and two years old, respectively.
The pair was charged on four counts: criminal assault with intent to do great bodily injury, unlawful infliction of injuries on a kid, unlawful and indecent treatment of a child, and unlawful assault using a belt, cane, and horsewhips.
The defendants appeared before Chief Magistrate (Mrs.) Bola Osunsami after allegedly committing the crimes in the Egbeda/Idimu region of the state, where they reside.
The defendants were given bail in the amount of N500,000 each after entering a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Busola Oyediran and her partner Akebiara Emmanuel’s duplicate case file should also be handed to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal counsel, according to Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi.
She then put the proceedings on hold until March 27.
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) said in a statement from its Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni, that the Ministry of Youth and Social Development helped set up the children’s current placement in protective custody.
Mrs. Titilola Vivour Adeniyi, who is the executive secretary of the DSVA, said that a mandated reporter brought the case to the attention of the right people, including the police at the Idimu Divisional Police Station, who quickly arrested the two.
She asserts that the accused may have abused the two children by beating them with belts, canes, and horse whips.
Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi reaffirmed the state government’s zero-tolerance policy for all types of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault, and she reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering dedication to upholding the state’s child protection and safeguarding laws.
The statement emphasized that “a crime to one is a crime to all” and urged locals to report any incidents of domestic or sexual abuse by calling the DSVA Toll Free Line at (800) 333-333, which is available 24/7.
