Man Bags Jail Term For Assaulting Policeman, Two Others

By Odunayo Adedire

A 22 year-old-man, Olagunju Lekan was on Wednesday convicted and sentenced to one month imprisonment by a Magistrate’s court in Osogbo for assaulting one policeman, Alayande Muritala, one Mrs Florence James and her daughter, Victoria James.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Joshua Oladoye said on the 5th of January, 2018 around 1:30 pm, the accused person was trying to defend his boss during a fight with Florence and Victoria before he assaulted them.

Inspector Joshua further explained that when the accused was to be arrested, he assaulted the policeman and damaged his police shoe and wrists watched valued N25,000.

The prosecutor also said cannabis sativa popularly known as india hemp was found in the possession of the accused person and the accused also caused breach of peace.

The accused was said to have committed an offence contrary to section 516(A), 356, 70, 430, 249(D) and punishable under section 516, 351, 356(D), 70, 430, 249 (D) Cap 34, volume ii, laws of Osun state of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused who had earlier pleaded not guilty on the first day of arraignment changed his plea to not guilty to the six count charge slammed against him when the matter came up for hearing on Thursday.

The defence counsel, Najite Okobe informed the court that Lekan had spent more than a month in prison because he could not meet his bail conditions.
The magistrate, O. A Ayilara thereby convicted the accused and sentenced him to one month imprisonment.

The counsel urged the court to temper justice with mercy because the accused was a first time offender and he had learnt his lessons.

The counsel said further that if the accused is discharged he would never go back to such act.

The accused was however released immediately at the court because he had already completed his jail term while awaiting trial.