CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Tension gripped residents of Alaba Rago, Ojo area of Lagos on Friday after three men were arraigned before an Ojo Magistrate Court for allegedly inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man by cutting off his ear with a sharp cutlass.
The defendants were Ikechukwu Emmanuel, 22 years; Ali Muhammed, 25 years; and Abdullahi Isa, 29 years.
They were arraigned in Charge No. 2026/07/1/88 filed by the Commissioner of Police within the Ojo Magisterial District.
According to the charge sheet made available in court, the alleged incident occurred on May 13, 2026 at about 03:30hrs at Line, Alaba Rago, Ojo, Lagos.
The victim was identified as Ekene Ejinaka.
In Count I, the prosecution alleged that Ikechukwu Emmanuel, Ali Muhammed and Abdullahi Isa conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit assault occasioning harm.
The offence is punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
In Count II, the Police alleged that on the same date, time and place, the three defendants used a sharp cutlass to inflict injury on the left ear of Ekene Ejinaka.
The action allegedly caused the victim serious bodily harm and led to him being rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The offence is punishable under relevant provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The case was prosecuted by SP Uche Simeon before Magistrate Mr. L.K.J. Layeni of Court 030, Ojo.
The prosecutor told the court that investigation into the matter is still ongoing and that Police were gathering more evidence.
When the charges were read to them, all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following their plea, SP Uche Simeon asked the court to grant bail on terms that would ensure the defendants attend trial.
The Magistrate granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The court ordered that the sureties must provide evidence of means of livelihood, tax clearance, and show verifiable address within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter was handled by CSP Opeifa Omolola, Divisional Police Officer, Ojo Division, while Insp. Adele Suraju served as the IPO.
The court also ordered that all exhibits in the case, including the cutlass allegedly used, be preserved and that relevant documents be made available ahead of trial.
Legal experts who spoke after the arraignment noted that the charge relates to conspiracy and assault occasioning harm under Lagos State law. They explained that if found guilty, the defendants risk significant jail terms under the 2015 Criminal Law.
Under Nigerian law, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Magistrate adjourned the matter for mention and further hearing.