Suspected assailant burst into tears in court

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A suspected assailant, Michael Chinoso, burst into tears at the Ojokoro Magistrate’s Court after hearing the two counts of assault preferred against him by the police.

Our correspondent gathered that the complainant, Gabriel Odewole, Oke-Ayo Street, Iju Ishaga, Lagos State was attacked by a gang on September 7, stabbing him in the nose, shoulder and arm.

It was learnt that the gang members, who are still at large, had attacked the victim, following an affray between his younger brother and the leader of the gang whose name could not be ascertained.

However, 23-year-old Chinoso, who was said to be a member of the gang, told the court that he did not partake in the attack.

“I was not there. Please help me. I was not the one that stabbed him. I don’t want to go to jail. I know the person that stabbed him,” he pleaded in tears.

The charges, to which he pleaded not guilty, read, “That you Chinoso Michae, and others at large, on September 7, 2014, at about 8pm at Oke-Ayo, Iju Ishaga, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit; assault and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 407 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

“That you and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did assault one Gabriel Odewole by stabbing him with bottles and cutlass all over his body to cause him bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.”

The magistrate, Mrs. T. Akani, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in the like sum.

The matter was adjourned till November 20, 2014 for mention.

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