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 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 apprentices 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 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 ignited matches and burnt her alive.
The victim was later rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for treatment but was later confirmed dead by doctors as a result of the burns she suffered.
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 made them keeping malice.
The prosecutor, Inspector Sekunda Olayide, informed the court that the matter was brought to court via a motion exparte.
According to him, it is 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.
