Kemisola Oye
A Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Eti-Osa has remanded a 23-year-old saleslady, Nifemi Friday, in the Kirikiri Correctional Facility of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), for alleged stealing of goods worth Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N5.200,000.00) as well as defamation of character.
Magistrate (Mrs) T. F. Oyaniyi, who presiding, remanded the defendant after she pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against her by the police.
The police in the charge marked ET/C/18/2025, accused the defendant of stealing the goods at a mall, and calling a businessman, Mr Lateef Lawal and his wife ritualists.
The defendant was arraigned before the court on the charges by police prosecutor, Inspector Adeleye Ganiu, of Ogombo Police Division, Lagos.
Arraigning the saleslady, the prosecutor informed the court that she committed the offence on 23 December 2024, at about 1.00 p.m. at Obas Mall, Okun Ajah in Eti-Osa of Lagos State.
The prosecutor further informed the court that the defendant, apart from the goods she allegedly stole, also acted in a manner that was likely to cause a breach of public peace by defaming one Mr Lateef Lawal and his wife.
In committing the alleged defamation offence, she was alleged to have sent out voice note messages via social media handles, calling Mr Lawal and his wife ‘ritualists’.
The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant’s alleged acts contravened sections 287 and 168 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
However, based on the defendant’s not guilty plea to the allegations, Magistrate Oyaniyi, after taking an oral bail application from her lawyer, admitted her to bail in the sum of N500,000.00 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned to 28 March 2025 for mention.
Charges against the defendant read: “That you Nifemi Friday “F” on the 23rd day of December 2024 about 1:00 hrs at Obas Mall, Okun Ajah, Eti-Osa, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District did steal the sun of Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N5, 200,000.00) only and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Nifemi Friday “F” on the same day time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by defaming the character of one Mr, Lateef Lawal and his wife by sending them a voice note on social media, that they are ritualist and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media