A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Thursday ordered the remand of a 30-year-old woman, Mercy Michael, in a correctional facility over allegations of killing her eight-month-old daughter with rat poison.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) charged Michael with culpable homicide, an offence that contravenes Section 189 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.
According to the NSCDC prosecutor, Marcus Audu, the case was reported on December 11 by a resident of Fadia Bakut, Zonkwa, identified as Godfrey Sunday.
Audu stated that on December 10, Michael allegedly fed her baby with rat poison for reasons yet to be determined.
The baby was rushed to the General Hospital in Zonkwa but tragically passed away the following day.
Audu further revealed that the matter was initially reported to the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kafanchan before being referred to the NSCDC for investigation.
Presiding over the case, Magistrate Samson Kwasu declined to take the plea of the accused, citing the court’s lack of jurisdiction over such matters.
He directed the prosecutor to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case to December 17 for further mention.
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