1st June, 2011
A Surulere magistrate court, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has sentenced four men to one month imprisonment each for allegedly assaulting a policeman, CPL Baguo Michael and others led by Inspector Onu Simon and obstructing them from performing their lawful duty.
The police identified the suspects as Pikin Okereke, Uche Jose, Remi Jose and Ikechukwu Okoye.
The incident occurred on 14 April, 2011 at Ojo Afeje Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos.
The police in Orile Police Division alleged that following a tip-off that criminals were using the place as their meeting place where they always smoked Indian hemp before going out for their nefarious activities, a police patrol team stormed the scene to effect their arrest, but met with resistance and in the process, the suspects assaulted them and even attempted to snatch their guns, but they were overpowered, arrested and taken to the Orile Police Station.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being criminals, and were arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and breach of public peace. The offences, according to the prosecuting police officer, Coporal Adedayo Abayani, are punishable under Section 356(1) and 356(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C17, Vol. ii, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them and the presiding magistrate, A. O. Sholadoye, sentenced them to one month in imprisonment each without an option of fine.
— Paul Iyoghjie