An Ilorin Magistrate court on Tuesday remanded a sixteen-year-old girl, (name withheld), for allegedly setting her colleague, Fatimoh Jako ablaze over a minor misunderstanding that ensued between them.
She was dragged before Magistrate F.O Olokoyo for alleged Criminal Trespass, Mischief by Fire and Culpable Homicide contrary to sections 327, 342 and 221 penal code law.
The incident occurred at Moshegada, Kaima local Government area of the state and was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ilorin for discreet investigation.
The defendant and victim were apprentice at one Joseph Friday Patent Medicine Store before the former was transferred to another branch over their quarrel.
She reportedly got the petrol she used to perpetrate the act from the store from where she was transferred to
According to police report, she trespassed into the room of the deceased while she was asleep, poured the petrol on her, then ignite matches and burn her alive.
In a bid to save her life, the victim was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for treatment but was later confirmed dead by doctors as a result of the burnt she suffered, the charge sheet added.
The police said the defendant, during the course of the investigation, confessed to the crime claiming she set her colleague on fire because of a minor disagreement that necessitated them keeping malice.
The prosecutor, Inspector Sekunda Olayide, informed the court that the matter was brought to court with a motion exparte.
According to him, it’s a capital offence and the defendant cannot be admitted to bail.
Magistrate F. O Olokoyo, who only took cognisance of the suit because of lack of jurisdiction to try it, adjourned the case till 30th August,2021, pending the outcome of advice from the Ministry of Justice.
Olokoyo then ordered her remand in any juvenile facility or appropriate custody in Ilorin.
