A 35-year-old woman named Folake Olasode and a 31-year-old school teacher, Damilola Aboloyinijo, were on Monday arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Lagos state, Nigeria, for allegedly preparing a fake charm of protection and obtaining eight million naira.
The two individuals were charged with five counts of conspiracy, stealing, obtaining, unlawful assault, and breach of public peace; the charges were brought before them by the police in the state.
The prosecutor, an assistant superintendent of Police, Francis Igbinosa, told the court that Olasode and Aboloyinijo, who failed to give their addresses, had allegedly committed the offences in May 2024. According to the prosecutor, the two accused conspired to commit the crimes levelled against them.
Providing the location where the incident took place, the prosecutor explained that the alleged crimes had taken place at 7A, Jide Agbalaya Street, Chevy-View, Lekki area of Lagos.
The prosecutor explained that the defendant and others who they have connived together who are currently at large took the sum of N8m from one woman named Sarah Umeh under the pretence that they specialize in the preparation of charms and batter and put incisions on her and her three children for protection, the explanation she said is false.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant unlawfully used a razor blade to cut the body of the victim and her three children, which was termed assault. He noted that the defendant had told the victim that the cut would enable them to put incisions on their bodies with a representation that they were protecting them from death.
The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants had engaged in the burning of charms, which, according to him, could contribute to the breach of public peace. According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are against Sections 411, 314, 287, 172, 287, and 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offences charged against them by the police.
The counsel to the defendant, Moses Enema, appealed to the magistrate for the accused to be granted bail in the most liberal terms, explaining that the victims were first-time offenders.
However, the defendant’s counsel, Moses Enema, applied for bail and urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms, saying they were first-time offenders.
Magistrate Aderemi Gbajumo, in response to the bail request, granted the accused bail in the sum of N750,000 each with sureties that each in like sum.
The sureties, according to the judge, must have valid means of livelihood and a valid means of identification
The magistrate also ordered that they provide evidence of Lagos State Residents’ Registration and verify their addresses, which the prosecutor will do.
The matter was adjourned till October 14, 2024when the trial will begin.
