The accused – Olalekan Adelaja, 27, and Obiniwanne Onukwo, 22 – are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, attempt to kill and inflicting grievous harm
Two men were on Thursday charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly cutting off the male organ of an 18-month-old baby.
The accused – Olalekan Adelaja, 27, and Obiniwanne Onukwo, 22 – are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, attempt to kill and inflicting grievous harm.
Adelaja resides at 16, Lamide Ariyo Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, while Onukwo also lives at Ago Palace Way, Okota.
The prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, had told the court that the offences were committed on March 23 at 8pm at the residence of the accused.
He said Adelaja and the father of the baby, who are cousins, lived in the same compound.
Nkankuk said: “On the fateful day, the mother left the baby in her room and went to a nearby house to sleep with one Fatai, her husband’s friend.
“Adelaja went to the room, cut off the boy’s private part, put it in a polythene bag and ran away.
“The baby was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, for treatment.
“Adelaja had claimed to be mentally unstable and that Onukwo sent him to do the job with a promise to pay him N30,000 for the organ.”
Nkankuk noted that the offences contravened Sections 228, 243 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Adelaja pleaded guilty to the charges, while Onukwo entered a plea of “not guilty”.
The Chief Magistrate, A. A. Demi-Ajayi, remanded Adelaja in Ikoyi Prisons.
Demi-Ajayi, however, admitted the second accused to a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in the like sum.
One of the sureties must be a relation to the accused and must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government, she added.
The case was adjourned to April 30 for further hearing and judgment.
