Woman Bites Off Co-Tenant’s Finger

A 55-year old woman, Mrs. Taiwo Adegbola, has been arraigned before  Igbosere Magistrateâ€s Court on a one-count charge of allegedly biting off one of the right fingers of Usman Nafiu with her teeth during a fight.

The police at  Lion Building Police Division, Campbell Street, Lagos Island, southwest, Nigeria, alleged that the accused was arrested following a complaint lodged by the victim with blood gushing out from his fingers that the accused,Taiwo, his cotenant at 34, Hawley Street, Lagos Island, had bitten off one of his right fingers with her teeth when she attacked him at about 8 am as he prepared to go to the mosque to pray.

Following the report, the police arrested the woman and took her to the station while the victim was rushed to the hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

In his statement to the police, the victim said the accused attacked him over a previous disagreement with other tenants in which he intervened and settled.

“She suddenly gripped me in the morning that she would deal with me before she packed out of that premises because the landlord has given her quit notice and as I made to free myself from her grip, she suddenly chopped off one of my right fingers with her teeth. When the finger was later found by sympathisers and brought to the hospital, the doctor on duty confirmed it was dead and could not be grafted back.

“That is how I am deformed  for life by a woman who is not my wife. I have absolute trust in the Lagos State judiciary that justice will be done in this matter.”

After investigation, the accused was charged to court for inflicting injury occasioning harm, deformity.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, Supol A. C. Orji, is punishable under Section 323 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her in the open court and the presiding magistrate Mr. Martins Owumi admitted her to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the matter till 16 November, 2011 for mention.

The accused was moved to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Apapa, when she could not perfect her bail conditions.

—Paul Iyoghojie