Court told how immigration officer assaulted colleague in Lagos
09 November 2023 |
2:10 am
Justice Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) was, yesterday, told how an immigration officer, Umar Mohammed, assaulted his colleague, Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru, while both were on official duty in Lagos.
Immigration shows no interest in case, says witness
Justice Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) was, yesterday, told how an immigration officer, Umar Mohammed, assaulted his colleague, Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru, while both were on official duty in Lagos.
The Lagos State government had filed a two-count charge marked LD/120518c/2022 against Mohammed, for unlawfully assaulting Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru by slapping him in his office and causing his nose to bleed.
The alleged assault on Badiru occurred on July 30, 2019, at Nigerian Immigration Service Ikeja, Lagos. The prosecution said his offences are contrary to Section 173, 174 (e) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed trial, yesterday, the prosecution witness and victim, Badiru, narrated to court how Nigeria immigration treated him after he was assaulted, victimised and ordered him to withdraw the case or he will be dismissed.
Led-in-evidence by counsel from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr M. A. Olateju and Mr Alaba Kuku Badiru, Badiru told the court that he was an official when he was assaulted by Mohammed.
He said: “I was assaulted during my lawful schedule of official duty which was the issuance of International passports to qualified Nigerians in the Very Important Personalities (VIP) issuance unit of Ikoyi passport office.
“The defendant gave me a blow in my left nose that left me bleeding. I was taken to Immigration clinic for medical treatment. But the hospital rejected me on the grounds that I suffered internal injury.
“Consequently, my friend rushed me to the Military Hospital at Awolowo Way, Ikoyi, where I was admitted into ear and nose ward for treatment.
“The Military Hospital Ikoyi further referred me to the Military Hospital at Yaba for proper medical treatment.
“While I was preparing to go to the Military Hospital Yaba as directed by the Ikoyi military hospital, Nigeria Immigration Service, my employer, arrested me, rather than punishing the defendant, they placed me in detention at Lagos Passport Command headquarters in Ikeja.
“In 2019, despite several internal report, both from Ikoyi passport office and committee set up by the Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Passport Command, which clearly established that I was assaulted and wounded by the defendant, and despite the fact that defendant admitted in letters written to the fact finding committee of the Immigration Service Lagos passport command, as well as in his response to query issue to him, the Nigerian Immigration Service commence disciplinary action against me.”
Badiru said when the counsel sought to tender the referral medical letter from Military Hospital Ikoyi, Internal report of Ikoyi passport office, police medical examination form from Ikoyi police station, he was opposed by the defendant’s counsel, Ms. O.F. Osineye.
Olateju, therefore, withdrew the documents sought to be tendered, noting that he needed to put his house in order and requested that the matter be adjourned.
The court in bench ruling held that the prosecution has the right to withdraw the documents, since issue has not been joined on the documents.
Justice Sonaike, subsequently, adjourned the matter to January 31, 2024, for continuation of trial.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.