Baby falls into fire as parent’s fight over infidelity

Lagos police on Tuesday arraigned a 42-year-old driver, Igwe Dike, before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ikeja, for allegedly attacking his wife, Nkiru Egbo, with a plank which left her and their son badly injured.

Dike was arrested on a two count charge of assault and causing of grievous bodily harm, which he pleaded not guilty to.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Simon Imhowa, the incident occured on July 30, 2017, at the couple’s residence on Ferry Street, Mile 2, Lagos.

Imhowa noted that the offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 170 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

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According to the charge sheet, Dike violated  his 35-year-old wife by beating her with the plank.

Dike was alleged to have chased her with a cutlass and during the chase, their nine-month-old son, whom she was strapped to her back, fell into a fire, which burnt his face and right arm.

Dike disclosed that police that he got married to Egbo in 2006 and the marriage was blessed with three children.

He noted that they lived happily until he lost his job in 2016.

He said, “On the day of the incident, at about 12.30am, I came back to meet another man making love to my wife inside a vehicle.

“I immediately picked up a stick, opened the door of the vehicle and hit the man on the head with it.

“My wife took the stick from me and while we were dragging it, the man escaped.

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“I later overpowered her and beat her mercilessly with the stick.

“She immediately ran towards where our baby was laid and picked him up. When she tried to run away with the baby, she fell and the baby fell into the fire.”

Dike added that his wife reported to the police which led to his arrest.

The presiding Magistrate, B.O. Osusanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one responsible surety in like sum, adding that evidence of tax payment and address of the surety must be verified.

The case was adjourned till August 29 for trial.