Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), yesterday, ordered the arrest of an immigration officer, Umar Mohammed, for failing to comply with an earlier summons issued to him over the alleged assault.
The order follows an application by Alaba Kuku, the State Counsel who is prosecuting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), following Mohammed’s absence in court.
The court has on January 19, 2023, during the last hearing issued a summons to Mohammed sequel for refusing to appear in court to defend two charges brought against him by the state government.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, in an application, asked the court to issue a criminal summons to the accused, to compel him to appear in court.
The state government has a charge marked LD/120518c/2022 filed against Mohammed, alleging that he unlawfully assaulted one Oluwafemi Adeyemi Badiru, by slapping him in his office and causing his nose to bleed.
The alleged attack on Badiru happened on July 30, 2019 at the Nigeria Immigration Service Ikeja, Lagos.
When the matter was resumed yesterday, the prosecutor, Kuku told the court that the accused was served with a summons and he refused to take it.
He also showed proof of oath of service to the accused.
Ruling on the matter, Judge Sonaike ordered the Immigration Department to bring the accused
before a court in Lagos on April 4, 2023 to answer the charges and be dealt with further according to law and adjourned until April 4, for mention.
Part of the allegation reads: “That you Umar Mohammed on or about July 30, 2019 at the Nigerian Immigration Office, Ikoyi, Lagos State, in the Judicial Division of Lagos unlawfully assaulted Badiru Adeyemi Oluwafemi while performing his lawful official duties.”
The offense is against section 173, 174 (e) of the Penal Code Ch. C17, vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Justice Sonaike then adjourned to February 28, 2023 for arraignment.