By Bilesanmi Abayomi
In a courtroom scene that unfolded on Thursday, four individuals found themselves in the dock, facing charges of engaging in a public brawl and causing a breach of peace. The defendants, namely Olaolu Adebayo, Abolade Kehinde, Izuchukwu Orjiakor, and Damilola Olanipekun, stood before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, where they pleaded not guilty to the accusations leveled against them.
The quartet, whose addresses remain undisclosed, allegedly found themselves embroiled in a heated altercation that erupted on August 23 at No. 341, Agege Motor Road, Oshodi, within Lagos State. The skirmish reportedly escalated to the point where it disrupted public order and raised concerns about the breach of peace in the vicinity.
Standing as a representation of the law, Prosecutor SP Josephine Ikhayere detailed the defendants’ actions to the court. She asserted that not only did the accused engage in a public brawl, but they also added fuel to the fire by loudly hurling insults and derogatory statements at personnel from the Akinpelu Police Station. Among the targets of their vitriol was the investigating police officer.
The alleged actions of the four individuals run afoul of the provisions set out in Sections 54 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. These sections pertain to public brawls and behavior that disrupts the peace, respectively.
Magistrate Mr. Lateef Owolabi presided over the case, and after hearing arguments from both sides, he granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each. To ensure their appearance during subsequent proceedings, he also ordered each defendant to produce two sureties who can demonstrate gainful employment and provide evidence of three years’ worth of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
The legal process is set to unfold further as the case was adjourned until September 20, a date earmarked for further discussion and potential resolution.