Ekiti man jailed in absentia
An Ekiti State magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a man, Aluko Oluwademilade, alias Fijabi (37), to two years in prison for assault. In his evidence before the court, the victim said, “I am a caretaker on Onala Street in Ado-Ekiti. The landlord called me to meet him at the Oke-Ila Police Station. On […]
An Ekiti State magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a man, Aluko Oluwademilade, alias Fijabi (37), to two years in prison for assault.
In his evidence before the court, the victim said, “I am a caretaker on Onala Street in Ado-Ekiti. The landlord called me to meet him at the Oke-Ila Police Station. On getting there, it was an electricity disconnection issue which was settled amicably by the police.
“On getting home at Onala, the landlord was addressing other tenants on how to co-exist peacefully. The defendant came from nowhere, held my clothes and started punching me in the left eye, which led to bleeding. I asked what my offence was, but he cared less. In the process, my necklace worth of N128,000 got lost, including my phone worth N240,000.
“I was then rushed to a hospital.”
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To prove his case, the prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, called two witnesses and tendered the statement of the victim, photographs of the wounded eye of the victim and a medical report.
The Magistrate, Olatomiwa Daramola, held that, “This court is fortified with authority in the case of Maina Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria (2022) LPELR-58942 (CA) to deliver this judgment in the absence of the defendant.
“The issue for determination in this case is hereby resolved in favour of the prosecution as against the defendant. I find the defendant guilty as charged and convict him accordingly.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour or a fine of N20,000 in lieu of imprisonment.
“All security agencies are hereby put on red alert to apprehend the fugitive wherever and whenever sighted to serve his term of imprisonment or pay his fine.”