By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Senior Correspondent
A retired naval officer, Olufemi Ibitoye, was on Wednesday, May 9, arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife, Olumide Ibitoye, by throwing a six inches block at her.
Olufemi was docked on a two-count charge of assault and unlawful possession of firearms.
He was alleged to have committed the offences between June 30 and July 21, 2017, at about 1:55p.m, at No. 28A, Adeyemi Lawson St., Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Jide Martins from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the accused not only assaulted his wife Mrs. Olumide Ibitoye by throwing a six inches block at her but was also unlawfully in possession of a browning Pistol 9mm with 107 live ammunition.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences allegedly committed by the retired naval officer contravened Section 27 (1) (a) of the Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 and Section 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, after listening to the charge levelled against him, the accused pleaded not guilty to the two counts.
His counsel Mr M. J. Onigbanjo (SAN) prayed the court to grant the accused bail on self recognition.
“This is a matter arising from a breakdown of a marriage. The defendant and the victim have lived apart for over a year and he has demonstrated that he will not interfere with the investigations by submitting himself to the police whenever needed,” defence counsel submitted.
Pleading for the defendant on the charge for unlawful possession of firearms, Onigbanjo said that his client is a former naval officer with the intelligence unit and that explains why he was in possession of ammunition.
“I urge the court to grant bail to the accused on liberal terms,” the Silk lawyer said.
Responding to the submission on bail application by the defence, the prosecutor told the court to ensure that the accused should not have any direct or indirect contact with the victim while considering the bail.
“The victim is the defendant’s wife and we at the domestic violence unit want the safety of the woman.”
In her ruling, Magistrate Folashade Botoku admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
While adjourning the case for trial till May 30, she further ordered that the accused not have any direct or indirect contact with the victim.
