Court remands man for allegedly assaulting police officer

An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun on Tuesday ordered that a 32-year-old man, Toyosi Orobola, be remanded for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

The police charged Orobola with felony to wit: cultism, unlawful possession, serious assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Magistrate O. B. Adediwura, who refused to admit the defendant to bail, asked the defence counsel to file a formal application.

Adediwura ordered that he should be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custody.

The magistrate adjourned the matter until Jan 10, for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov. 25 around 01:00 p.m. at Lagere Area, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said that the defendant paraded himself as a member of secret cult called Eiye Confraternity and disturbed the peace of the neighbourhood of Lagere Area.

He said the defendant also had in his possession wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana which he smoked.

The prosecution said the defendant conducted himself in a manner that could cause breach of public peace by smoking weed publicly.

Osanyintuyi said that the defendant also had in possession dangerous weapons.

He said that the defendant struck CSP Martin Bamigboye on the forehead with the butt of a locally-made pistol while performing his lawful duty as a result, he sustained injuries.

The prosecutor added that the defendant resisted and willfully obstructed the police officers while performing their lawful duty.

Osanyintuyi said that the defendant had in his possession one Tecno Android phone which he could not give satisfactory account of how he came about it.

He told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of sections: 63, 71, 80, 249(d), 355, 430 and 516 of the criminal code, laws of Osun, 2002.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Philip Fasanmoye, prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.