BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A couple, Ademola Quadri and Ademola Omolara, is currently in trouble for allegedly assaulting a police officer, Inspector Femi Ogunade and his wife, Bola Ogunade, on account of the arrest of their relative.
Ogunade, alongside other policemen had reportedly arrested a boy simply identified as Ahuwa, Ademola’s nephew over his alleged involvement in armed robbery.
In reaction to Ahuwa’s arrest, Ademola and his wife, on May 23, 2021, were said to have stormed Ogunade’s Number 16, Orisunmbare Street residence at Fadilullahi area, Osogbo, Osun State, where they reportedly hauled stones at him and his wife and then beat him with sticks.
Ogunade, who is attached to the Oja Oba Police Division, Osogbo, said he sustained injury on his back while his wife was injured on the mouth during the incident.
Ademola and his wife were said to have been arrested for assault and breach of peace. They were reported to have spent five days in police cell before being granted administrative bail.
When the matter was arraigned at the Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, the Police prosecutor, Inspector Olayiwola Rasaq, said that Quadri, aged 45 and his wife, Omolara, aged 28, committed felony by assaulting the police officer.
Rasaq added that the couple beat up the officer and his wife because Inspector Ogunade was part of the police team that arrested their relation, an alleged armed robber known as Ahuwa.
He added that the defendants damaged the victim’s window glass, valued at N25,000; house door, valued at N100,000; and tore his dress, valued at N20,000; totalling N145,000.
“That you Ademola Quadri and Ademola Omolara and others, now at large, at the same time and venue, did assault and also threatened the life of one Inspector Femi Ogunade with plank and stone violently with intent to do him havoc simply because he was among the team of Policemen that arrested one Ahuwa, an armed robbery suspect who happened to be your relation,” the charge read in part.
The prosecutor argued that the defendants committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 355, 451, 86(1), and 249(D), of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol II, Laws of the Osun State, 2002.
But the couple pleaded not guilty to the five counts. Their counsel, Mr Kehinde Adepoju, applied for their bail in affordable terms, saying that the couple had made plans to settle with the victims.
The presiding Magistrate, A. Adeyeba, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N25,000 with one surety each in like sum.
The Magistrate adjourned the case till July 8, 2021 for hearing with a ruling that the sureties must swear to affidavits of means, adding that their addresses must be verified by the prosecution.
