Reacting to an allegation by an accused that another Magistrate demanded N300, 000 bribe on her behalf, Mrs. Ogunbowale said she had never demanded money from any accused and would never do so.
“This is my 12th year on this job and I have never demanded money from suspects. I heard someone asked you to bring N300, 000 to give me in order to help your case, let me make it public now that I didn’t send anyone to collect money on my behalf.
“If you ask my registrar, she will tell you that I don’t even collect ‘thank you’ packages or parcels. She can recount the number of times I have shouted at her and told her to return gifts from suspects because I know that I do not need gratification to do my job.
“I am raising this issue in the open court so that others will hear, should anyone approach you for bribe that the money is for the magistrate, please my door is always open, just walk in and report the person,” said.
She spoke during a case of assault brought by the police against Mrs. Tina Otulana, 43, and her daughter, Bolaji, 25.
Prosecuting police inspector Stephen Molo alleged that the accused on May 25, around 2pm, at the Anti-Fraud Office, Zone II, Onikan, assaulted Kingsley Umeji and his wife, Ogechukwu.
He said the accused assaulted the complainants at the police station and tore their clothes, an offence which contravened Section 170 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.
The accused had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned on May 14, and were granted N100,000 each bail one surety in the like sum.
Trial in the matter was, however, stalled for the third time on August 23 following the absence of the complainant, who was said to have travelled to Abuja.
Counsel to the accused I.C. Oforma urged the prosecution to produce its witnesses on the next adjourned date, failing which he would apply that the matter be struck out.
He said: “The matter is for trial and this honourable court cannot be used as an evading ground. Prosecution has failed to provide its witnesses for the second time now. If it continues at the next adjournment, I shall apply that the matter be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.”
On the bribery allegation he said he was hearing it for the first time, promising that he would investigate it.
Mrs. Ogunbowale adjourned the matter to October 9.
The Nation learnt that prior to the alleged assault, Mrs. Otulana had written the police, alleging that Umeji, who is her tenant, was involved in examination malpractice.
She alleged that Umeji approached her for accommodation to run a tutorial for students preparing for examinations only for her to discover later that he was using the apartment as special centre for those writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.
Mrs. Otulana whose late husband was a police officer, said after the discovery, she told Umeji to pack out because she was not comfortable with the practice.
She said she offered to return his rent, but Umeji refused to leave because he has started the tutorials. Mrs. Otulana added that she reported to WAEC and the police, and they were invited to the command.
A source at the Police Command confirmed the petition, adding that police investigation found nothing incriminating against the accused. The woman and her daughter were charged to court following a fight at the police station.
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