Man Sets Suya Seller Ablaze

A man, Endurance Samuel Elufere, 25 has been arrested by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria and arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for allegedly injuring a smoked meat (suya) seller.

Endurance, it was gathered, approached the Suya seller, Sulaimon Bello, at a spot at NEPA Bus Stop, Offin-Ile, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, on Christmas eve last year to buy Suya but did not find the type of meat he wanted. An argument was said to have developed between him and the Suya seller during which he took the lantern used by the complainant and smashed it on his head. The resultant fire, it was gathered, burnt parts of the body of the Suya seller.

The case was reported at the Igbogbo Police Station, Ikorodu and  Endurance was arrested and later transferred to the SCID.

He was arraigned in court on a one-count charge which according to the prosecuting police officer, Corporal Babaji Ishiaku, is punishable under Section 335 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The charge against him reads: “That you, Endurance Samuel Elufere, on 24 December, 2010, at NEPA Bus Stop, Offin Ile, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did cause grievous harm to one Sulaimon Bello, by inflicting injuries on him and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 335 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”

Endurance pleaded not guilty to the charge and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. J. Ugbomoiko, granted him bail in the sun of N400,000 with two sureties.

The sureties, according to the magistrate, must deposit N50,000 to the account of the Chief Magistrate of Lagos State; show evidence of payment of tax for three years to the state government;  show evidence of means of livelihood and must be residing within the magisterial district.

The magistrate adjourned the case for trial after ordering the detention of the accused at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Apapa when he could not fulfill the conditions attached to the bail.

—Paul Sanusi