On Wednesday, April 24, Hajara Yusuf appeared in Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola, Adamawa State. She stands accused of pouring hot cooking oil on a man over a N100 dispute. Magistrate Musa Alhaji Adamu presided over the court session where Hajara faced charges of causing grievous harm to her victim, Adamu Abubakar.
During cross-examination, the defendant, a resident of the Lakare community in Yola South LGA, Adamawa State, confessed to committing the appalling act. Recognizing the seriousness of the offence and the extent of the injuries, the presiding judge decided to refer the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police command for further investigation.
The judge then adjourned the proceedings to May 8, 2024, allowing the police ample time
to conduct their investigation and prepare for the defendant’s prosecution.
Hajara poured hot cooking oil on her victim on April 22, 2024, during an argument over N100, the payment for soya bean cake ordered by the victim. Both the victim and the defendant hail from Lakare and got into a disagreement over the money. In the heat of the argument, the victim slapped the lady who was frying the cake.
Reacting to the provocation, the defendant grabbed her frying pan containing hot groundnut oil and poured it on the victim’s body, causing severe burns to his neck, chest, and back.