Insanity Claim in Child Abduction Case: Legal Tactics and Public Reactions
A woman accused of abducting a three-year-old boy in Lagos has reportedly feigned mental illness to evade justice. The incident occurred when the woman, disguised in a hijab, lured the child away from his sister after they returned from mosque prayers. She allegedly offered the sister N500 to buy ice cream, then took the boy and disappeared.
The child was later found, and the woman was apprehended. At the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), she reportedly pretended to be mentally ill, complicating efforts to determine the child’s whereabouts. Authorities plan to assess her mental state at a psychiatric hospital.
Feigning mental illness to avoid legal consequences is a tactic known as malingering. This involves intentionally faking or exaggerating symptoms of mental illness to escape responsibility. Such behavior can complicate legal proceedings and may lead to further charges if proven.
For a related case, a woman in Richland County was denied bail after being accused of kidnapping a three-year-old boy. She remains in custody as the legal process continues.
In another instance, a woman in Oregon was accused of feigning mental illness for nearly 20 years to avoid prison. She was later sent back to a state hospital after being accused in two killings.