Juliana Francis
Two men, Odewale Jamiu 38 and Fatai Saheed 52, alleged of attacking an official of Ikeja Electricity identified as Gbenga Omotosho at the Agege area of Lagos State, were arraigned today 27th September 2022 at Ikeja Magistrates Court4A.
The men, described as community leaders by their lawyer, were alleged to have violently pushed Omotosho while he was carrying out his lawful duty at the Oko-Oba area of Agege, Lagos State.
The Magistrate in Court 4A was not available, therefore they were arraigned before the Magistrate in Court 5, who granted them bail.
The Defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on assault and breach of peace.
Count 1 reads: “That you Odewale Jamiu, Fatai Saheed and others at large on 20th September 2022 at about 10:45 am, at Oko-Oba Road, Agege, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace engaging some Ikeja Electrical Distribution staff performing their lawful duty and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.”
Count II states: “That you Odewale Jamiu and Fatai Saheed and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conspired together to engage one staff of Ikeja Electrical Distribution and beat one Omotosho Olugbena mercilessly and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 413 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count III reads: “That you Odewale Jamiu, Fatai Saheed and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did assault one Omotosho Olugbenga a staff of Ikeja Electrical Distribution staff that lead to the hospitalization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count IV: “ That you Fatai Saheed on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did push one Omotosho Olugbenga, which cause him a deplorable condition that led to his hospitalization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 230 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Evelyn Ehiemua for the Prosecution, Lawrence Irabor with M.E. Isiekwene and A.A Aribisala for the Defendants. Adewale Sontan holding a watching brief for the nominal complainant-Ikeja Electric. Gbenga Omotosho the staff who was attacked was present in court. The prosecution intends to call seven witnesses.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. They were admitted to bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties, one who must be a blood relation, proof of three years of tax payment to Lagos State, LASSRA Registration and address to be verified.
The matter was adjourned to 15 November 2022 for mention.
