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The Lagos Police Command has arraigned no fewer than six traders for allegedly assaulting and blackmailed a popular Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, before a Chief Magistrate Court in Tinubu axis of Lagos Island Local Government.
Those arraigned before Magistrate A. A. Paul, were; Qudus Jokogbola; Suru Olawale; Edu Shakirat; Fausat Mohammed; Kafayat Ahmed and Opere Simiat Morenike. Meanwhile, two other suspects were said to be at large.
The six defendants and the two others at large, according to the police on Thursday, committed the alleged offences at about 1.30p.m on Monday inside Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island.
The traders arraigned before court
On the charges against the defendants, the prosecutor, Sola Samuel, informed the court that all the six individuals and two others said to be at large, conspired among themselves and forcefully pushed and dragged Lizzy Anjorin, the action that caused her grievous bodily harm.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant’s actions caused a breach of public peace.
He told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened sections 411 and 413; 168(d) and 170(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015. And punishable under the same Act.
Meanwhile, all the defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.
Following their stance on the allegations, their lawyer, Ade Oshodi, who led the other six lawyers, informed the court that his clients were traders, urging that they be granted bail in the most liberal terms.
The Magistrate, Paul, in his ruling, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N200 000, 00 with one surety in like sum
The magistrate also ordered the sureties the be residents of Lagos State with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government, among others.
Paul, however, ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till when they will meet the bail terms and adjourned the case to March 11, for mention.
Charges against the defendants read: “That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f’, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f and two others at Large on the 5th day of February 2024 at about 1330hrs at Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit assault and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 and 413 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State
of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully conduct yourselves in a manner to cause the breach of the public peace by assaulting one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal by forcefully pushing and dragging her which caused her bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 168(d) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully assault one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal by forcefully pushing and dragging her which caused her bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 170(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully injured the reputation of one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal when one of you recognized her being an actress in the Nollywood industry by calling her thief, ‘Ole’, ‘ashawo’ etc also posting it on the internet that she stole at the Lagos Island Market and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 170(b) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”.
As reported, the four people were identified to include Kwara State University’s Deputy Bursar, Ayuba Abdullahi, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr Cairo Ojougbo, Ivory Coast-based billionaire from Anambra State, Osondu Nwoye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a 43-year-old man, Mikail Osundiji.
Ojougboh, a former House of Representative member, close associate of former president Goodluck Jonathan, and APC chieftain was said to be medically sound but slumped and died immediately after Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimehin’s goal was canceled by the referee.
For Ayuba, it was learnt that he couldn’t stand on his feet after the equalizer from South Africa, suffering a heart attack during the process.
Eyewitnesses narrated that he died before getting to the hospital where the Kwara varsity staff was expected to receive medical treatment.
Nwoye, who was a businessman residing in Ivory Coast, slumped at the stadium during the match and was confirmed dead by the Ivorian medical team in the sporting facility.
Osundiji, who was said to be a sales representative for Nestle Foods, slumped and died while watching the football match at a public football viewing centre in Olomoore area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The father of two reportedly died when the referee cancelled Nigeria’s second goal against South Africa, by Victor Osimhen.
Relatives said the deceased did not show any sign of sickness before his death during the match that was decided on penalties.
An elder sister to the deceased, Mrs. Adetunji Nofisat, explained that Osundiji suddenly breathed out heavily after the cancellation of Nigeria’s second goal, lowered his head, and consequently fell to the ground at the football viewing center.
“That was when other people at the football viewing center rushed to him and took him to one of the private hospitals in Olomoore before the doctor on duty pronounced him dead”, the deceased’s sister said.
Nofisat however, disclosed that the remains of the deceased had been buried on Thursday afternoon according to the Islamic rites.
“We cannot take his corpse to his hometown, Okuku in Osun State because he still has a father, mother, and two children who are 12 and seven years of age”, she added.
Nofisat, meanwhile, appealed to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, to come to the assistance of the family, particularly through scholarships to enable the children left behind to complete their education, up to the university level.
Confirming Ojougboh’s death, President Bola Tinubu described the death of the former Executive Director, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as a tragic loss to the nation.
Tinubu, through a statement released on Thursday by his
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, condoles with the Ojougboh family and the government and people of Delta State over the loss.
While praying for the peaceful repose of the departed, President Tinubu comforts his family and urges them to find strength and hope in God Almighty, who presides over the affairs of men, as well as in the cherished memories and legacy of the late APC chieftain.
