Man whose dogs attacked boy gets bail

The police have arraigned Mr. Stanley Wesley, the owner of the ferocious dogs that attacked a four-year -old boy, Omonigho Abraham, who is currently receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. However, Wesley was granted bail by Magistrate P. E. Nwaka of the Lagos Senior Magistrates’ Court, Ejigbo.PUNCH Metro had reported on October 7, 2014, that the dogs chased Omonigho and his brother, Bobby, while they were taking turns to ride a bicycle in their compound...

Eyewitnesses had said the dogs dragged Omonigho around the compound for over an hour and exposed the victim’s skull while inflicting bites on him during the attack which happened at his parents’ home on Adegboyega Street, Akesan Estate in the Igando area of Lagos. Wesley, who was arrested after the incident, was arraigned for negligence by allowing his dogs to attack a neighbour.The charge reads, “That you, Stanley Wesley, on September 25, 2014, at about 5.40pm at Adegboyega Street, Akesan, in the Lagos Magisterial District did act in a negligent manner, letting loose your dogs which attacked one Omonigho Abraham aged 3 1/2yrs of same address and caused him grievous bodily harm on the head and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.”

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have voter cards, national identity cards and show evidence of three years tax payment.

The matter was adjourned till November 3, 2014.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed that the accused was granted bail said, “The dogs are being held, but they’re not in detention. The reason for this is to enable the health authorities know if they are rabies-infested dogs which could affect the line of treatment of the victim.”Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Lagos State Government had taken over the treatment of the victim.The boy’s father, Mr. Odia Abraham, who confirmed the development on Sunday, told our correspondent the state government promised to bear the cost of treatment.He said, “I must thank you for the good job you’re doing. We were contacted by the state government. I thank God for Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Commissioner for Health, who have intervened in the matter.“I also thank the good people of Nigeria who have shown us so much love and care. Since the incident, I have remained at the hospital just to make sure my boy lives.”The victim’s mother, Helen, said Omonigho’s condition was improving and he had started talking.However, our correspondent who tried speaking with the victim was told the doctor had instructed everyone to let him rest till the injury heals.