How Landlady, 40, Allegedly Poisoned Tenant’s 3-year Old Son

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 40-year old woman, Nafisat Lateef, has vented her anger on her tenant’s three-year old son, Abdurasheed Musibau, by  allegedly administering a liquid substance suspected to be poison,  which caused him harm over a quarrel with his mother in Ondo State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the woman, Nafisat Lateef, has been remanded by a Magistrate Court in Ondo State over her alleged conduct against the victim.

The incident happened on 4th February, 2026, at about 6.30pm at Aliami Street, Omifon in Odigbo area of the State following allegations that she poisoned her tenant’s three-year-old son following a misunderstanding with the child’s mother.

She was charged for unlawful administration of a harmful substance under the Criminal law of the State, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

Part of the charges read:

“That you, Nafisat Lateef on February 4, 2026, at approximately 6.30pm at Aliami Street, Omifon via Odigbo, within the Ondo State Magisterial District, did administer a liquid suspected to be poison to the boy, identified as Abdurasheed Musibau, causing him harm, an act which contravenes Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The defendant, Lateef, was also accused of unlawfully giving a chemical liquid to the child at the same time and location, an offence punishable under Section 22(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Ondo State, 2006.

It was reported that shortly after consuming the substance, the child began to vomit and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received medical attention.

The Police detectives, during a swift and intelligence-led operation, arrested the defendant and detained her at the station for interrogation over her alleged conduct.

While being interrogated, the landlady, Lateef, told the Police that the boy’s mother was her tenant and that they had lived peacefully together and that the child’s mother frequently visited her shop and that she often assisted in collecting the children from school.
On the day in question, she claimed, she returned home intending to eat but felt an unusual impulse. At the Court, the defendant admitted to have done so due to devil’s work.

“I don’t know what came over me. I went straight to my room and brought out the poison. The victim was with me. I opened it and used the cover of the poison to put it in his mouth. After I did it, my eyes opened immediately.”

She claimed that she then rushed to Ore Police Station to report the incident and was subsequently directed to Odigbo Police Station.

“Please, my Lord, it was the devil’s handiwork,” she pleaded.

The prosecutor, ASP Martins Olowofeso, asked the Court that the defendant be remanded to allow the Police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Defence counsel, Godwin Bernard, did not oppose the application.

The presiding Magistrate, Temitope Alphonso, ordered that Lateef be remanded at the Surulere Correctional facility in Ondo pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.

The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.

The matter was adjourned to 9th June, 2026, for mention for the report of the  the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.