CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 21-year-old woman, Ayomide Balogun, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over alleged conduct likely to cause breach of peace, assault on police officers and malicious damage in Ipaja area of Lagos State.
The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Mr L.A. Owolabi on a three-count charge filed by the Commissioner of Police.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Iykayare, told the court that the offences were allegedly committed on October 15, 2026, at about 5:00pm at No. 26, Atan Road, Ipaja, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
In Count One, Ayomide Balogun and others at large were charged with allegedly conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by obstructing and fighting one Inspector Shittu Ayantoun and two other police officers while performing their lawful duty. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count Two, the defendant and others at large were charged with allegedly unlawfully assaulting Inspector Shittu Ayantoun and two other police officers by beating them with a stick, tearing their clothes, damaging her wristwatch and their phones and inflicting injury on their bodies while performing their lawful duty. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 174(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count Three, the defendant and others at large were charged with allegedly maliciously damaging one Rolex wristwatch worth N48,000, one iPhone 12 Pro Max worth N700,000, one gown worth N50,000 and one polo worth N3,000. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 350 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to her in court.
Following her plea, the prosecutor did not oppose bail but urged the court to impose stringent conditions to ensure her attendance at trial.
Magistrate Owolabi granted the defendant bail with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri Town pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing to allow the defendant to meet her bail conditions and for the prosecution to present its case.
The charge was signed by SP Endurance Ovwigbo, Divisional Police Officer, Ipaja, Lagos, on October 16, 2026.
The case was investigated by Inspector Olufemi Adeite of Ipaja Division.
Ipaja, located in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, is a densely populated residential and commercial area, with Atan Road serving as one of the major link roads in the community.
Residents in the area have continued to call for improved relationship between the police and members of the public, especially during enforcement of law and order.
The police have advised residents to cooperate with officers on lawful duty and to report any grievance through the appropriate channels instead of resorting to confrontation.
The Lagos State Government has continued to emphasise the need for respect for law enforcement officers while also urging officers to carry out their duties with professionalism and restraint.
Under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, assault on a police officer and malicious damage are serious offences, and are punishable upon conviction.
The court is expected to hear from the prosecution witnesses at the next adjourned date, while the defence will have the opportunity to cross-examine them.
The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.