Court admits video footage as exhibit in Ejigbo torture suit

Justice Atinuke Ipaye of Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has admitted the video footage of the Ejigbo ‎market pepper torture incident as exhibit after it was played in the open court in the ongoing trial of 10 persons alleged involved in torture.

Ajoke Ajomo and her two daughters were torture‎d for alleged stealing pepper at the Oba Morufu international Market in Ejigbo, Lagos on February 11, 2013.

Ten persons, nine men and one woman were arraigned and remanded in prison custody in connection with the torture of the two women and the minor.

Those arraigned on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty were the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Haruna and Saheed Adisa.
Others were Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda.

Justice Ipaye in a bench ruling ordered that a compact disc (CD) of the video recording be admitted into evidence despite opposition from defence counsels; Mr. Tunji Busari and Mr. Jamilu Basir on the premise that the primary maker of the video clip was unknown.

The judge said: “The CD sought to be tendered as evidence was the primary source and reason for the investigation into the assault. The document is compliant with the requirements of Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act, I hereby admit it into evidence.”

Ipaye, after admitting the clip into evidence, ordered members of the public out of the courtroom.

She said “Members of the public should vacate the court gallery so that only the lawyers and the defendants should be present while the video clip is being played.”

Earlier at the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, a female police officer with the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, Adejumo Olabisi narrated to the court that one of the defendants alleged in the assault of the three Ejigbo women, Isiaka Waheed (Baba Oja) admitted to have committed the alleged offence in a confessional statement he personally made to her.