A 35-year old bricklayer, Adebayo Oseni, yesterday,  appeared in an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting his five-year-old son with a machete.

The police charged Oseni, who resides in Igando, Lagos State, with assault. Police prosecutor, Inspector Raphal Donny, said Oseni committed the offence on April 4 at his residence.

Donny said the accused, now separated from the child’s mother, inflicted machete cuts all over his body.

“The accused is fond of beating the boy mercilessly on any provocation, this time, he beat him with a cutlass,” he said.

He said Oseni assaulted the child following reports from his wife that the boy ate food, which was not meant for him.

“Neighbours and other residents who saw cuts on the boy’s body reported the case and the accused was arrested,” Donny said .

He said the act contravened section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribes three years jail term for assault.

Following Oseni’s not guilty plea, the magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, released him on bail in the sum of N 20,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, should also show evidence of two years tax payment to Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case till May 5.