Woman, 48, Docked For Battering Female Police Officer

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect has been arrested and charged before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly assaulting the Police officer, Inspector Comfort Ibitoye, in the course of duty.

The woman, Kafayat, was said to have injured the officer, Ibitoye, by punching her on the neck during a disagreement that ensued at the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo.

According to the Police, the woman visited the Police unit at the Housing Estate area of Osogbo to see her husband, who was arrested alongside others over allegations of conspiracy and abduction of a victim, simply identified as Apara, with a view to forcing him to sign a land document.

It was learnt that an altercation erupted at the entrance of the station over the place where the woman passed during her visit to the station and senior officer had reportedly directed the defendant to pass through another route but she discountenanced the order. It resulted in a rowdy session between the woman and the female Police officer and in the process, she assaulted Ibitoye by punching her and tearing her uniform.

The charge against her read that “Kafayat Akeem, on January 4, 2023, at about 10am, at Housing Estate area Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Inspector Ibitoye Comfort and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 356 of the Criminal Code, Cap 3, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002″.

“You, Kafayat Akeem, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Inspector Ibitoye Comfort by punching her, inflicting some injuries on her neck and tearing her clothes and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”

“You did unlawfully assault one Inspector Ibitoye Comfort and obstruct her from performing her lawful duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 356 (II) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”

“On the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, you did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace in Osogbo and its environs to fear and/or panic and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun state of Nigeria, 2002.”

She pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.

The defence counsel, Najite Okobe, urged the Court to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms as the prosecutor, John Idoko, asked the Court to use its discretion in granting her bail.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the matter for mention.