Father faces assault charge for caning son, 5

A father who allegedly assaulted his five-year-old son by flogging him has been arraigned at the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday.

The accused, Sikiru Mustapha, 29, is standing trial on a charge of assault.

Mustapha, a resident of No.4, Pedro St., Iwaya, Yaba in Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

But the Prosecutor, ASP. Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 5 at about 9.30 a.m. at his residence.

He also told the court that the victim lived with the accused and his step-mother.

Anyanwu said the accused beat his five-year-old son because he defecated on his body as he was preparing to go to school.

“The victim’s teacher saw the injuries on the boy’s body and rushed him to hospital.

“The teacher and those who treated the boy called the Public Defender’s Office to report the case.

“The accused was subsequently, arrested by officers of the Sabo Police Station at Yaba after investigations,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said that the victim was still undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

He said that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 171 stipulates a three-year jail term for assault occasioning harm.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till July 20 for mention