Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has been told how an immigration officer, Umar Mohammed assaulted his colleague, Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru in office while both were on official duty.
The prosecution witness who is also the complainant, Badiru narrated to the court how Nigerian immigration treated him after he was assaulted, and victimised and ordered him to withdraw the case or he would be dismissed.
Led in evidence by the counsel from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr M. A Olateju and Mr Alaba Kuku, Badiru informed the court he was on official when he was assaulted by Mohammed.
“I was assaulted during my lawful schedule of official duty which was the issuance of International passports to qualify Nigerians in the VIP issuance unit of the Ikoyi passport office.”
He said he was assaulted by the defendant, and noted that the defendant gave him a blow in his left nose which resulted in bleeding. He added that he was taken to an Immigration clinic for medical attention. But the hospital rejected him. He said the Clinicians told him he had suffered an internal injury.
He further stated that his friend rushed him to the Military Hospital at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi where he was admitted into ear and nose ward for treatment.
The Military Hospital Ikoyi further referred him to another Military Hospital at Yaba for proper medical treatment.
“While I was preparing to go to the Military Hospital Yaba as directed by the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Nigeria Immigration Service, my employer arrested me, rather than punish the defendant, they placed me in detention at Lagos Passport Command headquarters in Ikeja.
“In 2019, despite several internal reports, both from Ikoyi Passport Office and a committee set up by the Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Passport Command, which clearly established that I was assaulted and wounded by the defendant, and even though defendant admitted in letters written to the fact-finding committee of the immigration service Lagos Passport Command and also in his response to a query issued to him, the Nigerian Immigration Service commence disciplinary action against me.”
The counsel however sought to tender the referral medical letter from Military Hospital, Ikoyi, the internal report of Ikoyi Passport Office, Police Medical Examination Form from Ikoyi Police Station, but was opposed by the defendant’s counsel, Ms O.F Osineye.
Olateju, therefore, withdrew the documents sought to be tendered, noted that he needed to put his house in order and requested that the matter be adjourned.
The court, in a bench ruling, held that the prosecution has the right to withdraw the documents since issues have not been joininged on the documents.
Justice Sonaike subsequently adjourned the matter to 31 January 2024 for continuation of trial.
It would be recalled that the state government had in a charge marked LD/120518c/2022 filed against Mohammed alleged that he unlawfully assaulted Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru by slapping him in his office and causing his nose to bleed.
The alleged assault on Badiru occurred on 30 July 2019 at the Nigerian Immigration Service Ikeja, Lagos. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The prosecution said his offence is contrary to sections 173, 174 (e) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015
Eighteen-Eleven Media