The Police in Lagos on Friday docked one Sulaiman Maiyegun, a.k.a Afobaje, before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating his wife and boasting about it on his Facebook page.
Maiyegun pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of assault occasioning harm and offensive publication.
The Prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Shinaolu Adeoye, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 5, at 12:13p.m, at Maiyegun town, Jakande Estate, Eti-Osa Local Government.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant unlawfully assaulted his wife, the complainant, one Mariam Gabriel, by beating her with his fist on her forehead.
“The defendant injured the victim on her forehead and posted an inciting and provoking publication about the incident on his facebook page,” Adeoye said.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 57 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 57 provides as punishment a six months jail term or a fine of N90, 000 while Section 173 provides three years imprisonment on conviction.
Adeoye, however, urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional centre and asked for an adjournment date for the commencement of trial.
In a swift reaction, the defendant’s counsel, Mr Mustapha Danesi, urged the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms, adding that the matter was as a result of family crisis.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs Folake Oshin granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must be a cleric and a family member to the defendant.
She directed the court registrar to verify the addresses of the sureties who must be tax payers in the State.
The case was adjourned until June 22, for mention.