2nd July, 2013
A senior secondary student, Kelvin Agbedo, on Monday shocked both the court officials and litigants present when he was asked to spell the name of his teacher, John, in court as part of consideration for his bail and he could not do so.
The 20-year old SS1 student of Awujuola Secondary School, Mile 2 Estate, Apapa, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, said he was not familiar with the spelling because he was not good at spellings.
The presiding Magistrate Mr. P. E. Adekomanya wondered if he was actually a student as he claimed and he said yes and mentioned again the name of his school.
Aghedo from Esan in Edo State, southsouth Nigeria, was arrested by the police along Ojo road Ajegunle Division for allegedly stealing a Techno handset worth N5,000 belonging to Segun Alli.
He was charged before Apapa Magistrate’s court with stealing under the Criminal Code.
When he was arraigned in court, he pleaded not guilty.
He explained in court that he actually picked up the set along the road and did not steal it as alleged by the police.
He passionately pleaded with the court to allow him go because he was still a student.
At that point the Magistrate asked him the name of his school which he gave.
When he was asked to mention the name of his principal, he said he did not know.
The Magistrate then asked him further questions to determine whether he was a student or not, by asking him to tell the court the name of his teacher.
Agbedo said his teacher’s name is John and when he was asked to spell the name, he said he did not know and quickly added that he couldn’t remember how to spell it.
The court ignored his plea and granted him bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum.
His detention warrant was immediately signed and the magistrate ordered him to be remanded in prison custody till he perfects his bail.
The matter was adjourned till 18 July, 2013.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe