Usman Lateef was
arraigned on 2nd February 2022.
When the charge
was read and explained to him, he pleaded not guilty.
The charge reads
that the defendants on 31/01/2022 at about 1:00p.m at Odo-Uro Community, Iyin
Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Magisterial District, did assault one Oke Boluwaji by
slapping him.
The offence is
contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16,
Vol. 1, Laws of Ekiti State Nigeria, 2012.
In his statement
to the police, the victim said, “I bought the land at Odo-Uro, Iyin Ekiti, from
a Chief with yams planted on it; some of the yams were destroyed while fencing
the land. After some time, the defendant came to claim damages for the
destroyed yams; after intervention from the Chief and other neighbours, I paid
him a sum of N100,000 for the destroyed yams, he was warned not to disturb me
on the land anymore, and he packed the damaged yams, he also came back to
uproot the rest, yet, he always come to disturb me and other workers on the
land, the matter was reported at the Police Station, he was arrested and later
released after warning and cautioning him.
“The defendant
came back again after some time, I held him and called the Chief; when the
Chief arrived, he started slapping me continuously in the presence of the
Chief.”
To prove his
case, the prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare called three witnesses; he
tendered statements of the victim and defendant, a shirt, and a stone as
exhibits. While the convict spoke in his own defence through his counsel, Paul
Komolafe, who pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy, called one
witness.
Delivering his
judgment, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola said the facts and circumstances of
this case point to the guilt of the defendant. He was found guilty and
convicted accordingly.
“The convict is
a young man who can still be useful to society if given the chance. He is
hereby sentenced to one-month community service within the High Court premises
to be supervised by an officer of the Non-Custodial arm of the Nigeria
Correctional Services,” he ruled.