Friday, August 31, 2012

Police arraign suspect for assaulting journalist

The police in Lagos have arraigned one Bayo Ogunsola, a director of a mortuary, POS Funerals, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for allegedly assaulting a photojournalist with the Leadership newspapers, Benedict Uwalaka, on 9 August 2012.

Mr Ogunsola who was said to have led the attack on the journalist was arraigned on a two count of assault and wilful destruction of Mr Uwalaka’s camera worth about N715,000.
The other assailant, one Idowu is said to still be on the run.
Mr Ogunsola however, pleaded not guilty to the two count charges before Magistrate E.O Ogunkanmi.
Mr Ogunsola was alleged to have committed the offences when relatives of the victims of the June 3rd Dana plane crash were at the mortuary to collect the bodies that were identified through a DNA test.
The photojournalist who was purportedly beaten to restrain him from taking the photographs of the corpses wept openly in court as he watched the arraignment of one of his assailants.
Shortly after the arraignment, Mr Ogunsola’s lawyer, Kunle Carew, urged the magistrate to grant him (Mr Ogunsola) bail on condition of self-recognition. The police prosecutor however asked the court to consider the fact that the victim was beaten like a robber in the cause of carrying out his legitimate duty.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi turned down the request to grant the bail on self-recognition. The bail was granted in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.
The magistrate said the surety must be a “responsible citizen” who must be resident in Lagos and show substantial evidence of tax payment.
Part of the charge reads, “That you, Bayo Ogunsola and one other person at large on August 9, 2012 at 11.30am at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, mortuary, in Ikeja Magisterial District assaulted and inflicted injuries on Benedict Uwalaka.
“That you Bayo Ogunsola and one other person at large at the time and same place within the magisterial district, destroyed one Mikon Camera worth N715,000 belonging to Benedict Uwalaka.”
The matter has been adjourned till the 4 October.

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