A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Eti-Osa, Lagos, has acquitted Ms. Olufumilayo Eriolowa, a 33-year-old woman who was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting a police officer, Olufowobi Nureni, in the Ogombo area of Lagos State.
Eriolowa, who had been remanded since May 17, 2023, was released after the charge was dismissed by Magistrate M. O. Alao of the Magistrates’ Court in Eti-Osa, Lagos.
Chronicle NG had reported that the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed in a post on Twitter that Erioluwa was remanded for allegedly assaulting a policeman in the state.
His tweet reads “Somewhere in Ogombo yesterday, she assaulted a police officer. She was arraigned today and has been remanded to the Kirikiri correctional facility till June 6 when the case comes up again in court”.
Erioluwa was arraigned before Magistrate M. O. Alao on two counts bordering on assault and resisting arrest at the Magistrate Court of Lagos, Eti-Osa.
The charges against her reads “That you, Olufumilayo Erioluwa, on May 14, 2023, around 9pm, at Ajah, Eti-Osa, in the Lagos Magistrate District, did commit a felony with a serious assault on one Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector and hereby commit an offence under Section 174 Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Olufumilayo Erioluwa, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, assaulted, resisted, obstructed and unlawfully prevented one Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector attach to the Ogombo Divisional Headquarters, in the course of executing his lawful and official duty and thereby committed an offence punishable Under Section 174 (b) (c) and (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”
Eriolowa, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case was adjourned until June 6, 2023.
Speaking on her acquittal, her legal counsel, Inibehe Effiong, stated that the police were unable to provide a witness or the complainant in court, and the Kirikiri Correctional Center failed to present Eriolowa as well.
He said, “The complainant, Olufowobi Nureni, who claimed he was assaulted, did not show up in court for all the times the case was in court. The Kirikiri Correctional Centre did not also produce her in court, and the case was adjourned a third time till June 27, 2023.
“We had however taken steps to perfect the bail before the charge was struck out. The police could not provide any evidence, witness, or complainant in court and so we pleaded that the case be struck out and the Magistrate saw reason with us and did the right thing according to the law. She is freed and discharged and the charges against her have been struck out on June 27, 2023.”
