The Lagos State magistrate court, Igbosere has sent a 22 years old mother, Olufunmilola Adisa accused of killing her 21 months old daughter, Oluwanifemi by drowning her in a bucket of water to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Psychiatric department for evaluation.
Delivering her ruling today in Lagos, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Dora Ojo, granted the application of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) representing the defendant that based on section 217 (3) of Lagos state Administration of the Criminal of Justice law of 2015, the defendant should be sent and remanded at the teaching hospital for necessary psychiatric test in order to determine her state of mental health.
It would be recalled that the defendant on the 11th of May 11, 2020 was arrested after being alleged to have killed her 21 months old daughter, Oluwanifemi by drowning her in a bucket of water at their residence at Gowon Estate, Alimosho local government area of Lagos State.
Speaking on the matter, the director, Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Dr. Babajide Martins said that the office in line with its statutory responsibility of providing free legal service for the indigent and vulnerable is representing the defendant.
He said OPD came to her rescue by providing free legal representation and ensured that the suspect was timely moved from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti to Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Oshodi as an out-patient pending her arraignment before court for further judicial action.
Martins further said that, though the case has been adjourned to June 26, 2020 for the outcome of the Psychiatric examination to be conducted on the defendant, he assured members of the public that OPD would do everything within the legal framework to defend the defendant.
“This is in consonance with Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu’s commitment to security and Governance pillar of T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, that all citizens get access to justice regardless of their socio-economic background” he said.
He therefore, urged members of the public that the office is still operating within the directive of the state government during the lock down in order to ensure that rights of the defenceless are well taken care of irrespective of socio-economic background.