Court acquits woman charged with assaulting a police officer

Forum 9 months ago

Court acquits woman charged with assaulting a police officer

A Magistrates’ Court in Eti-Osa, Lagos, has acquitted a 33-year-old woman, Olufumilayo Eriolowa, who was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting a police officer, Olufowobi Nureni, at the Ogombo area of Lagos State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin had alleged that the hair stylist was arraigned before Magistrate M. O. Alao on two counts bordering on assault and resisting arrest at the Magistrate Court of Lagos, Eti-Osa.

The charge against her read;

“That you, Olufumilayo Erioluwa, on May 14, 2023, around 9 pm, at Ajah, Eti-Osa, in the Lagos Magistrate District, did commit a felony with a serious assault on one Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector and hereby commit an offence under Section 174 Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“That you, Olufumilayo Erioluwa, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, assaulted, resisted, obstructed and unlawfully prevented one Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector attach to the Ogombo Divisional Headquarters, in the course of executing his lawful and official duty and thereby committed an offence punishable Under Section 174 (b) (c) and (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

Rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, and his team took over Eriolowa’s case. Effiong said the police could not produce a witness and the complainant in court, adding that the Kirikiri Correctional Center did not also produce Eriolowa in court.

He said;

“On June 6 when the case came up a second time, my team and I were able to secure bail for her. She was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.”

Effiong further revealed that they were working on perfecting her bail terms when the case was struck out. He added;

“The complainant, Olufowobi Nureni, who claimed he was assaulted, did not show up in court for all the times the case was in court. The Kirikiri Correctional Centre did not also produce her in court, and the case was adjourned a third time till June 27, 2023.

“We had however taken steps to perfect the bail before the charge was struck out. The police could not provide any evidence, witness, or complainant in court and so we pleaded that the case be struck out and the Magistrate saw reason with us and did the right thing according to the law. She is freed and discharged and the charges against her have been struck out on June 27, 2023.”