Ekiti footballer jailed for stabbing opponent with broken bottle

By Funmilayo Okunade

A 22-year-old footballer, Adeoye Martins, has bagged one year jail term for stabbing an opponent with broken bottle during a football match at Ben Folarin football pitch, Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

Martins, who allegedly committed the offence on December 8, 2025, at about 4: 00p.m was sentenced by an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court after he was found guilty of two-count charge of assault and breach of peace filed against him by the police on Tuesday.

The convict first appeared before Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola, on Dec.15, 2025 during which he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

However, delivering judgment on Tuesday, Magistrate Daramola found Martins guilty on two counts of assault and breach of peace.

The court sentenced him to one year imprisonment on count one- and one-month imprisonment on count two.

The court, however, gave the convict an option of N5,000 fine on count one, and N2,000 fine on count two.

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodeji Aina, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on Dec. 8, 2025, at about 4: 00p.m at Ben Folarin football pitch, Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti.

Aina said that the convict, who plays for White Horse FC, Ado-Ekiti, stabbed his opponent, Saheed Abdulazeez, of Jaydyn FC, Ado-Ekiti, with broken bottle on the right cheek during an argument.

He said that the defendant also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 186 and 181(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor called two witnesses and tendered the convict’s statement. (NAN)