Magistrate Berates Police Over Trivial Cases

A magistrate at the Ijaiye Ojokoro court has warned the police to stop bringing trivial cases before him, saying his court is not a dumping ground.

“Stop bringing cases of theft of N10,000 to court. This is not a dumping ground. Do you want me to send a woman with a child less than one year old to jail? Cases like this are supposed to be resolved in the police station instead of coming to court,” she told a police prosecutor who brought a case of three traders accused of stealing N10,700 at the Oke Odo Market, Ile Epo in Lagos.

The accused, Funmilayo Omotosho, 25, Fatolu Johnson, 22 and Owolabi Monday, 25 were alleged to have stolen N10,700 from traders at the market, an offence the prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen said was punishable under sections 516, 390 and 427 of the Criminal Code, Cap.32, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The first charge reads: “That you, Funmilayo Omotosho, Fatolu Johnson and Owolabi Monday on 28 May, 2011 at the Oke Odo Market, Ile Epo Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District did conspire to commit felony, to wit, stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 32, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The second charge reads: “That you, Funmilayo Omotosho on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did steal the sum of N7, 000 belonging to Mrs. Ajoke Morufu and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap.32, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The third charge reads: “That you, Owolabi Monday and Johnson Fatolu on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did receive the sum of N3,700 from one Funmilayo Omotosho and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 427 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 32, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. A.A. Adeeyo, after expressing his reservations granted each defendant bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety who must be gainfully employed.

The case has been adjourned till 14 June, 2011 for mention.

—Oghenetega Eriomala