A 55-year-old village chief in Lagos, Chief Ademola Adisa Shonibare, has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by a Magistrate’s court in the state for vandalising a Peugeot car belonging to a community women leader of the All Progressives Congress, Mrs. Wuraola Williams.
The convict was accused of having led a group of hoodlums to attack Williams before vandalising her car.
Delivering judgment after hearing the arguments of the counsel to the two parties, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye, sentenced the accused to a year imprisonment over his misconduct.
The court, however, gave the convict an option of N200, 000 fine. Shonibare’s relations said they chose to accept the option of fine as given by court as they could not allow the convict to go to jail.
After the judgement, the complainant, Wuraola, expressed satisfaction with the judgement of the court, adding that the development would serve as a deterrent to individuals in the habit of sponsoring hoodlums in the state and Nigeria at large.
Recalling the incident, which she said landed her in hospital for days, she said, “That day was one of the days I will live to remember in my life. If not that I managed to escape from the hoodlums, I would have been killed. If you see my car in police custody, you will understand what I am talking about. But I thank God and the court over the ruling so that people like this will serve as deterrent to others.”
Meanwhile, reactions by residents of Isale Eko have trailed the judgement of the magistrate court, which sentenced the local chief to one year imprisonment.
A resident, who identified himself as Mutiu Dauda, alleged that the convict had at various times in the past been involved in series of criminal activities along with his ‘boys.’
“He was a teacher before he was sacked over his hooliganism. He is the leader of the hooligans in this area. He always goes to court and police stations to bail the hoodlums. He has been accused of several crimes in our area,” Dauda said.
Another resident, who simply identified himself as Moshood, said,”He shouldn’t have been given the option of fine because of his atrocities in this area. But I believe that this will teach him a lesson.”
But another resident, who simply identified herself as Iya Ramon, said, “I don’t see Adisa as a terror in this area. He is a lovely person to us, and since one cannot be loved by all, others may say he’s sponsoring hoodlums.”
Our correspondent witnessed the payment of the N200,000 fine imposed on the convict at the court by his family members.
