An Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a 33-year-old dry cleaner, Imole Emmanuel, in prison custody for assaulting a police corporal, Kayode Akingbade, and conducting himself in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace.
Emmanuel, who was slammed with a three-count charge on June 13 at about 5.30 pm, is accused of pouring hot soup on Akingbade’s face and police uniform and also attempted to snatch his service rifle.
The charge sheet reads: “That you Emmanuel Imole ‘m’ on 13/06/2016 at about 5 .30 pm at Baptist junction, Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti in the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District did threaten with violence one Cpl Akingbade Kayode attached to New Iyin Road Police Station, Ado Ekiti by pouring hot stew on his face and police uniform before trying to struggle with his rifle and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 86(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol. 1 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2012.
“That you Emmanuel Imole ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by pouring hot stew on the face and his police uniform and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol. 1 Laws of Ekiti State Nigeria 2012.
“That you Emmanuel Imole ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did assault one Cpl Akingbade Kayode while eating at Nike Food Canteen located at Baptist junction, Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti by pouring hot stew on his face and on his uniform and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 356(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 16 Vol. 1 Laws of Ekiti State Nigeria 2012.”
Policemen were said to be on surveillance around Baptist College area on Ilawe Road and the suspect was ordered to leave their area to allow the cops carry out their operation.
Akingbade was said to have dashed to the canteen to eat about 30 minutes later only for the suspect to trace him there and allegedly carried out the attack.
At the sitting held Monday, police prosecutor, Bankole Olasunkanmi, disclosed that five witnesses have been lined up to give evidence against the accused person but only three including the nominal complainant were in court.
Olasunkanmi prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
Defence counsel, Gbenga Alabadan, urged the court to admit the accused person to bail, stressing that the presumption of innocence was still in favour of his client.
He therefore prayed for bail for the accused person.
Presiding Chief Magistrate, Idowu Ayenimo, in his ruling, said there was not enough ground placed before the court by the defence counsel to justify the bail for the accused.
Ayenimo ordered the defence counsel to approach the court with written bail application for the accused.
He ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to July 7.