The police have arraigned traders suspected to have assaulted and blackmailed the popular Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, before a Lagos State Chief Magistrate Court, in Tinubu
Those arraigned before Magistrate A. A. Paul, on the alleged offences were; Qudus Jokogbola; Suru Olawale; Edu Shakirat; Fausat Mohammed; Kafayat Ahmed and Opere Simiat Morenike.
The six defendants according to the police and two others said to be at large, committed the alleged offences on February 5, 2024, at about 1.30p.m, at Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island, Lagos State.
Upon the calling of the defendants into the dock and after their plea had been taken on the charges against them, Mr Sola Samuel announced his appearance as prosecutor, while Barrister S. Ade. Oshodi and Barrister Ademola Olabiyi, announced their appearance for the defendants and nominal complainant’s lawyer respectively.
On the charges against the defendants, the prosecutor, Mr Sola Samuel, informed the court that all the six individuals and two others said to be at large, conspired among themselves and forcefully pushed and dragged Lizzy Anjorin, the action that caused her grievous bodily harm.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant’s actions caused a breach of public peace.
He told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened sections 411 and 413; 168(d) and 170(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015. And punishable under the same Act.
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Meanwhile, all the defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not-guilty plea, their lawyer, Oshodi, who led the other six lawyers, informed the court that all his clients were market men and women.
He therefore urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
Responding to the lawyer’s request the prosecutor told the court that granting of bail is at the court’s discretion. But said that the court should admit them to bail in terms and conditions that will ensure their attendance in court.
Magistrate Paul, in his ruling, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N200 000, 00 with one surety in like sum
The judge also ordered the sureties the be residents of Lagos State with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government, among others.
Magistrate Paul however ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till when they will meet the bail terms.
The matter has been adjourned to March 11, for mention.
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Charges against the defendants read: “That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f’, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f and two others at Large on the 5th day of February 2024 at about 1330hrs at Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit assault and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 and 413 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State
of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully conduct yourselves in a manner to cause the breach of the public peace by assaulting one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal by forcefully pushing and dragging her which caused her bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 168(d) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully assault one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal by forcefully pushing and dragging her which caused her bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 170(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at Large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial did unlawfully injured the reputation of one Lizzy Anjorin Lawal when one of you recognized her being an actress in the Nollywood industry by calling her thief, ‘Ole’, ‘ashawo’ etc also posting it on the internet that she stole at the Lagos Island Market and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 170(b) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
