A 47-year-old commercial motorcycle driver identified as Ajayi Olatunbosun has been arrested by the police for allegedly hiring thugs to pour acid on his ex-wife, Bamidele Otakiti, in her shop on Adejobi Street in the Ajasa Command area of Lagos State.
It was learnt that the couple who had three children together, got divorced after a fight some few months ago, precisely in February 2015, 10 years after they moved to Lagos.
Before the final separation, Olatunbosun was said to have accused his estranged wife of infidelity but had reportedly pleaded with her not to divorce him.
According to Punch, the two-man assailant team had come to Otakiti’s shop on April 21 at about 7.30pm, with a substance which later tested positive for acid. She was reportedly trying to give them change for some items they had bought when they poured the substance on her.
The attackers allegedly told the woman that they were sent by her ex-husband before they fled the area.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was referred to the General Hospital, Ile Epo, for intensive care.
Olatunbosun, who lives on Adetoun Street, Abule-Egba, was apprehended after his alleged involvement in the incident, which was reported at the Meiran Police Station.
According to a police official, the suspect who hails from Osun State, initially denied the allegation, but later owned up following an intense interrogation.
The source said, “He initially denied hiring the thugs. But after a comprehensive interrogation, he confessed, saying the woman had been flaunting her beauty and committing adultery. He is giving us useful information to track the fleeing suspects.”
Olatunbosun was brought before an Ojokoro Magistrate’s Court on two counts of assault preferred against him by a police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emu erhi.
The charges read, “That you, Ajayi Olatunbosun, 42, and two others now at large, on April 21, 2015, at about 7.30pm on Adejobi Street, Ajasa Command, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: grievous harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, and two others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did grievously harm one Bamidele Otakiti by pouring liquid acid on her and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges after which a senior magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Olayinka, admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood to the court for verification,” Olayinka added.
Meanwhile, the case was adjourned till Thursday, June 25, 2015 for further mention.
