Pregnant Woman Saved From Prison

Moyo Fabiyi

A kind Nigerian who craved anonymity has saved a housewife, Fasilat Yusuf from being sent to prison on account of the N70,000 which she could not afford to refund to her former neighbour, Sunday Shobowale.

Police arraigned Fasilat before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Abule Egba, Lagos on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing N70,000 belonging to Sunday.

When the case was mentioned recently, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen A. Elias threatened to send Fasilat to Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, except she paid a substantial amount of her debt.

The defendant burst into tears begging: “Please sir, I don’t want to deliver my baby in prison.” Elias later allowed her to go home if only she would sign an undertaking to pay N20,000 soon. She did that immediately.

The court proceeding was published in P.M.NEWS Crime Diary of Wednesday 4 June, 2014.

Moved by the story, the kind Nigerian liaised with our reporter and handed over the N70,000 to be forwarded to the court through the defendant. He said no strings attached and does not wish his name mentioned.

On Monday, our reporter got in touch with the prosecutors in Court 5, Inspector Rachael Williams. She assisted in calling both defendant and complainant to the court.

Sunday Adebowale collected his money, signed an agreement to that effect. He also wrote and signed a withdrawal letter in the presence of the prosecutor.

Inspector Williams reported the development to Chief Magistrate Elias who did not object to the arrangement. Fasilat was all smiles as she went home with her baby which she delivered at home on 7 June, 2014.

But both parties must appear in the court on the next adjourned date, 30 June, 2014 when the withdrawal will be made public in the open court and the case struck out.