11th February, 2014
Itsibor Mark
A 33-year old man, Ibrahim Yekini, allegedly went wild and battered his neighbours, a couple and their son, because the child refused to run an errand for him.
Yekini was arrested and charged before a Senior Magistrates’ Court sitting at Ijaiye/Ojokoro, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly stabbing Mr. Sanusi Okeniyi with broken bottles after pouring live charcoal on his neck for trying to stop him from beating his wife, Risiqat Okeniyi and son, Ibrahim over the latter’s refusal to go on an errand for him.
The suspect was arraigned on a five-count charge of assault, breach of peace and resisting of police arrest.
The offences, according to the police, are punishable under Sections 170, 243, 171, 166 and 172 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the incident occurred at 1, Baale Compound, Ikola Ilumo, Meiran, Lagos State, where they reside as relatives of the traditional ruler of the community.
Trouble was said to have started when Risikat went to ask Yekini why he beat up her son.
Risikat alleged that Yekini got angry and beat her mercilessly for challenging him.
She alleged that as a result of the assault, she suffered a swollen face and almost lost her consciousness before their neighbours came to her rescue.
The police source said when Sanusi returned home from work and saw that Yekini had battered his wife and son, he went to meet the suspect.
“When I saw the injuries and swollen faces of my wife and son, I was angry and I went to ask Yekini what happened. I asked him why he assaulted my family and he became angry and threatened to deal with me.
“He went and took the live coal my wife was using to fry plantain and poured it on me. He almost poured the hot oil on me,” he said.
He said Yekini also stabbed him in the head with a broken bottle.
The matter was reported to the police and it was alleged that Yekini resisted arrest.
It was also gathered that Yekini escaped arrest by an anti-rubbery squad who came as re-enforcement after his purported resistance to honour police invitation.
However, when he was eventually arrested and interrogated, Yekini denied the allegations but admitted beating the son.
He said that he could not beat Ibrahim because he is his relative’s son and was acting on the order of Ibrahim’s father who told him that he can discipline the child whenever he refuses to go on an errand for him.
When Yekini was charged to court, he pleaded not guilty and the presiding Senior Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, accepted his plea.
The judge granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
However, he was remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos when he could not meet his bail terms.The case was adjourned till 18 February.