BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A man, Clement Oluwafemi Etseghe has approached an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court in Osun State where he had dragged his ex-lover, Busayo Ajayi and urged that the matter be withdrawn.
After dating Clement for some years, Busayo was said to have parted ways with him and alleged gender based violence.
Angered by the development, Clement sought the services of the Osun State Police to track Busayo, after which she was arrested and detained at Ataoja Police Station on November 6, 2023.
A Non-Governmental Organisation in the state, Value Female Network, had intervened and questioned the rationale behind the arrest of Busayo in such a manner, describing the detainment of the 32-year-old lady as illegal.
VFN had frowned against police who had left its Ataoja jurisdiction to Agunbelewo area where the lady lives and arrested her.
However, Clement claimed that Busayo had collected many gifts from him including renting apartment for her, buying her phone and some house items, before deciding to jilt him.
The complainant had insisted that Busayo returned all that he gave her when the going was good if she insisted in abandoning him.
Consequently, the police took the suspect to a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo and slammed her with conspiracy, theft and obstructing police police officers during her arrest.
The three count charge read, “That you Ajayi Busayo and one other presently at large sometimes in the Month of January, 2023 at Ogo-Oluwa Area, Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Stealing and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under section 516 of criminal code Cap 34 vol. 11. Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003.
“That you Ajayi Busayo and one other presently at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did steal television, chairs, Infinix Hot 8 handset and sum amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000: 00) altogether valued Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N650, 000: 00) only property of Clement Etseghe and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under section 390(9) of criminal code Cap 34 vol. 11. Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003.
“That you Ajayi Busayo on the 5th November, 2023 at Agunbelewo Area, in Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District did obstruct Police officers while performing their Lawful Duty and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under section 197 of criminal code Cap 34 vol. 11. Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003.”
Upon arraignment, Clement changed his mind and sought withdrawal of the matter. Before this, Busayo had entered into a not guilty plea for the allegations. She was granted bail by the court while the case was adjourned for out of court settlement.
When the matter came up in court, the prosecutor, Inspector O. Adepoju informed the court that some individuals had intervened and that the complainant had written to withdraw the matter.
“Sequel to the three (3) Count Charges being pressed against the aforementioned defendants on 6th November, 2023 in your Court, and having requested your Lordship to grant us the permission to settle the matter amicably out of court and return to court on 13th November, 2023.
“I, Clement Etsegbe (complainant) hereby write to withdraw the aforementioned court proceedings against Ajayi Busayo and One other at large, based on the positive outcome from the interventions of some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), family members and some concerned citizens. I have also requested Mr. Ebofin Michael Olusesi (President of Network of NGOs in Osun State) to represent me on this day 13th November, 2023 in your court based on exigencies outside Osun State,” the letter read.
To this end, Magistrate A. Ajala struck out the case.
