A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on Lagos Mainland yesterday granted N100,000 bail to a woman, Mercy Akinsode, 46, who chased out her nine-year-old niece for allegedly stealing a piece of meat.
Chief Magistrate A.O. Soladoye ordered her to provide two sureties in like the sum and adjourned the case till July 6.
Akinsode, who lives on Bajulaiye Road in Somolu, Lagos, is facing a charge of child abandonment.
Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Anyanwu told the court that the accused chased out her late sister’s nine-year-old daughter for stealing a piece of meat.
Anyanwu said the accused committed the offence on June 5 about 8 p.m., at her residence.
The victim, he said, was brought to Lagos from Ekiti some years ago to live with her aunt following her mother’s death.
“The family’s nanny, one Esther, had brought some raw meat from the market and directed the victim to prepare it. The nanny saw the victim eating part of the meat and reported her to her aunt. After scolding her, the aunt drove her out of the house.
“However, a good Samaritan saw the victim wandering around in a market, and took her to the Alade Police Station, Somolu.’’
The accused pleaded not guilty.