A 40-year old woman, Nafisat Lateef, was on Thursday, March 5, remanded by a Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State following allegations that she poisoned her tenant’s three-year-old son following a misunderstanding with the child’s mother.
Lateef appeared in court facing charges relating to the unlawful administration of a harmful substance.
According to the charge sheet, on February 4, 2026 at approximately 6.30pm at Aliami Street, Omifon via Odigbo, within the Ondo State Magisterial District, she administered a liquid suspected to be poison to the boy, identified as Abdurasheed Musibau, causing him harm.
The prosecution noted that the act contravenes Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Lateef was also accused of unlawfully giving a chemical liquid to the child at the same time and location, an offence punishable under Section 22(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Ondo State, 2006.
Shortly after consuming the substance, the child began vomiting and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received medical attention.
The police detectives, during a swift and intelligence-led operation, arrested the suspect.” he said
When questioned in court, Lateef said the boy’s mother was her tenant and that they had lived peacefully together.
She explained that the child’s mother frequently visited her shop and that she often assisted in collecting the children from school.
On the day in question, she claimed, she returned home intending to eat but felt an unusual impulse.
Lateefat told the court, “I don’t know what came over me. I went straight to my room and brought out the poison. The victim was with me. I opened it and used the cover of the poison to put it in his mouth. After I did it, my eyes opened immediately.”
She claimed that she then rushed to Ore Police Station to report the incident and was subsequently directed to Odigbo Police Station.
“Please, my Lord, it was the devil’s handiwork,” she pleaded.
The prosecutor, ASP Martins Olowofeso, requested that the defendant be remanded to allow the police forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
Defence counsel, Godwin Bernard, did not oppose the application.
Magistrate Temitope Alphonso ordered that Lateef be remanded at the Surulere Correctional facility in Ondo.
The magistrate also directed that the case file s be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The matter was adjourned to June 9, 2026 for mention and further legal guidance.
