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Magistrates Court, Ado-Ekiti
A magistrate court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has ordered the remand of a 20-year-old mother of two, Joy Ikoja, who allegedly inflicted injury on the manhood of her boyfriend, Ibrahim Usman.
The court also granted the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice plea to take over the prosecution of the defendant, Joy Ikoja.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti branch not satisfied with the previous charge, wrote to the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution of the lady, citing the prevalence of violence against men in recent times in the state.
NBA branch noted that the act of the defendant strongly amounts to attempted murder punishable with life imprisonment under Section 241 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
The Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, in Ekiti State, F.O Awoniyi, told the court that he had the instruction of the Attorney General of the state, Dayo Apata, SAN to take over the case, requesting that the original case file be transferred to the office of the public prosecution for review.
According to him, the practice of violence against men is becoming rampant in the state and should not be encouraged, adding that the defendant was arraigned before the court two weeks ago for a similar offence but a passionate plea on the nominal complainant brought about pending withdrawal and settlement.
Counsel to the defendant, David Ogbede, orally applied for her bail, urging the court not to be silent in the interest of justice.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola, denied the bail application and granted the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice the order to prosecute the defendant, urging them to accelerate the case charge and adjourned the matter to May 12 for further hearing. (Daily Trust)