Ten suspects involved in the torture of three women in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in the Igbosere area of Lagos Island.
Isiaka Waidi 60, Azeez Akinosun 35, Saheed Adisa 28, Jimoh Busari 49, Tijani Lateef 37, Adekunle Adenuga 57 are standing trial for allegedly torturing the women to death in what is usually described as jungle justice.
Others are Oloruntoyin Dauda 45, Buhari Yusuf 21, Haruna Abdullahi 19 and Ahmed Adisa 65.
They were arraigned on an 11 count charge, bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, threat to kill, unlawful society, neglect, torture and assault preferred against them by the police.
The police prosecutor, ASP Charles Odi, told the court that the defendants and others still at large conspired to commit the alleged offences on 11 February, 2013.
He said that the incident took place at the Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos State.
Odi said that the defendants attempted to unlawfully kill one Juliana Agoma, by inserting a stick into her private part, which almost caused her death.
The prosecutor also said that the defendants assaulted one Ajoke Agoma by pouring grounded pepper into her private. He added that with intent to insult one Nike Salami, the defendants also poured pepper into her private part.
Odi stated that Isiaka Waidi, who is the baba oloja (market head) of the market, demanded for the sum of 50,000 Naira from one Fima Agoma, the father of the victims and threatened to injure him and kill his two daughters, Juliana Agoma and Nike Salami, if he failed to give him the money.
According to the prosecutor, on the same day at the market, one Azeez Akinosun, Saheed Adisa and Jimoh Busari, managed and assisted in the management of an unlawful society by name Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
He said that they were also involved in an unlawful assembly with intent to carry out punishment on the victims.
Odi also accused Tijani Lateef, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda, who is the iya Oloja of conspiring to neglect the victims, while they were being tortured.
He further said that Tijani Lateef, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda, knew that Tiri Akeem, Abolore who are at large and Isiaka Waidi, were committing offence by torturing Juliana Agoma, Nike Salami and Ajoke Agoma and failed to prevent them from doing it.
The offences are punishable under sections 231, 228 (1), 134, 299, 409, 41, 44 (4) and 408 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty, to all the charges, when it was read to them.
The Magistrate A.O Adedayo, granted the defendants bail, in the sum of 100,000 Naira each, with two sureties in like sum.
She said: “I have observed the charge before me and the offences they committed, is a very grievous one but am going to grant them bail because they are still presumed innocent until they are proven guilty”.
Magistrate Adedayo said that all defendants should show their verification of three years tax of clearance and their addresses verified, adding that the Iya Oloja, the seventh defendant, should also get a written letter from the market.
She then adjourned the matter to July 23, for mention, and directed that the case files should be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public prosecution, for advice.
