Court Acquits Woman Charged With Assaulting A Police Officer

Olufumilayo Eriolowa, 33, who was held at the Kirikiri Correctional Center for allegedly attacking a police officer named Olufowobi Nureni in the Ogombo area of Lagos State, was found not guilty by a magistrates’ court in Eti-Osa, Lagos.

The hair stylist was allegedly charged with two charges of assault and resisting arrest at the Magistrate Court of Lagos, Eti-Osa, according to state police public relations officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

The accusation against her stated;

“On May 14, 2023, at approximately 9 pm, at Ajah, Eti-Osa, within the Lagos Magistrate District, Olufumilayo Erioluwa allegedly committed a felony by seriously assaulting Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector, thereby contravening Section 174 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

It is also alleged that on the same date, time, and location within the aforementioned Magisterial District, Olufumilayo Erioluwa assaulted, resisted, obstructed, and unlawfully prevented Olufowobi Nureni, an Inspector attached to the Ogombo Divisional Headquarters, from carrying out his lawful and official duties, thereby violating Section 174 (b) (c) and (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

Human rights activist Inibehe Effiong and his team took up the case of Olufumilayo Erioluwa. Effiong stated that the police failed to produce a witness or the complainant in court, and Kirikiri Correctional Center did not present Erioluwa either.

He explained, “On June 6, during the second hearing of the case, my team and I were able to secure her bail. She was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties of the same amount.”

Effiong further revealed that they were in the process of meeting the bail conditions when the case was dismissed. He added, “The complainant, Olufowobi Nureni, who claimed to be assaulted, did not appear in court throughout the proceedings. The Kirikiri Correctional Center also did not produce her in court, and the case was adjourned for the third time until June 27, 2023.”

“We had already taken steps to fulfill the bail conditions before the charges were dismissed. The police failed to present any evidence, witnesses, or complainants in court.

Therefore, we requested that the case be struck out, and the Magistrate agreed with our reasoning, acting in accordance with the law. Olufumilayo Erioluwa is now released and acquitted, and the charges against her were dismissed on June 27, 2023.”