Police arraign lawyer for allegedly attacking police Inspector

A Lagos based lawyer, Barrister Ajagba Stephen, has been remanded at Kirikiri Prison, Lagos State, for allegedly assaulting a policeman.

Magistrate Owope of Court 5 Ogba, Lagos, remanded the accused over allegation that he allegedly attacked a policeman, Inspector Gbenga Daniel.

Stephen was remanded on a 2 counts charge bordering on assault, grievous damage on a police officer and disorderly behaviour, which according to the prosecutor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ayorinde contravenes sections 168(D) and 174 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety.

The surety, however, must be a resident in the state and the surety must also show evidence of tax payment for the last two years.

The accused pleaded with the court to grant him bail on self-recognition. On that note, the Magistrate said that Stephen must deposit originals of his primary school, secondary school, university, National Youth Service Corps Certificate and original of his call up letter to the Bar before he could be given bail on self-recognition. The accused, who could not meet his bail conditions, was subsequently remanded in prison.

Our correspondent gathered that trouble for Stephen, started after he went to Merian Police Station to bail Stephen Emmanuel, whom police alleged stole a bag belonging to a Federal Road Safety officer in the premises of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

The bag was said to contain a laptop, phones and some documents. Ironically, Emmanuel didn’t know that his escapades were being captured by the bank’s Close Circuit Television (CCTV).

Emmanuel allegedly visited the bank again to steal, but luck ran out on him. He was arrested by the bank’s security personnel and handed over to the Police at Merian.

Emmanuel allegedly confessed to the crime and took the police to Computer village Ikeja, where the receiver of his stolen items was arrested.

A police source said: “As soon as the lawyer came to the station, he started quarrelling with the police for detaining the suspect beyond 24 hours. He didn’t ask why and all attempts to calm him down proved futile. His disturbance at the station prompted the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) to order inspector Gbenga Daniel to obtain his statement under caution. When he was told that his statement was needed, he attempted to run, Daniel had to block him. He pushed Daniel and started to punch him. He subsequently arrested and charged to court.”