A commercial driver, Mayowa Adeyemo, 32, on Tuesday, appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo for battering his 18-month-old son.

Mayowa was alleged to have beaten the victim with sticks and burnt several parts of his body with lighted cigarettes.

The police prosecutor, Abiodun Fagboyinbo, explained that the incident happened on May 24, 2020, around 1.30pm in Okinni.

Fagboyinbo added that the defendant exploited the victim; an act he noted was injurious to the welfare of the child.

The two counts of assault and exploitation were said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 33(1) (2) of the Child Rights Law of Osun State Nigeria as well as Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State Nigeria, 2002.

A picture of the victim obtained from security sources showed injuries on his body as a result of the torture he was allegedly subjected to by the defendant.

Mayowa, who had no legal representation, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He said he was under a spell and identified his mother as the person behind his ordeal.

Mayowa stated, “I have five children from five women. I know I am under a spell. I have consulted several pastors, who told me that my mother is responsible for my situation. I am a commercial driver.

“The boy I assaulted is my son from the fourth woman. When his mother got pregnant, we got separated due to the insistence of her family that she should not marry me.