Court Remands Landlady Accused of Poisöning Tenant’s Three-Year-Old Son Over Dispute

A Magistrate’s Court in Ondo has remanded a 40-year-old woman, Nafisat Lateef, over allegations that she poisoned her tenant’s three-year-old son following a misunderstanding with the child’s mother.

According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on February 4, 2026, around 6:30 p.m. at Aliami Street, Ondo State. Lateef allegedly administered a liquid suspected to be poison to the child. She was also accused of unlawfully giving the child a chemical substance, an offence punishable under Section 22(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law.

The court heard that shortly after taking the substance, the child began vomiting and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police detectives later arrested the suspect during a swift operation.

While speaking in court, Lateef said the child’s mother was her tenant and that they had lived peacefully together. She explained that the woman often visited her shop and that she sometimes helped pick the children from school.

Describing the incident, she said: “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 added that she later reported the incident at Ore Police Station before being directed to Odigbo Police Station. “Please, my Lord, it was the devil’s handiwork,” she pleaded.