By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—ABEOKUTA—THE
Ogun Police,
yesterday, arraigned a 50-
year-old man, Alao Akala
before an Abeokuta
Magistrates’ Court for
allegedly biting off the left ear
of a journalist, Saheed Ganiyu.
Ganiyu’s ear was bitten off
when he was investigating the
background of late political
god-father of Kwara politics,
Dr. Olusola Saraki.
Another journalist, Rasaki
Olayiwola was also reportedly
hit on the head with a
camcorder stand by the
accused.
*Court
Police Prosecutor, Sunday
Eiagbejiale told the court that
the accused committed the
offence on January 3, 2013 at
Ago-Ika in Abeokuta, Ogun
State.
Eiagbejiale told Magistrate
Matins Akinyemi that the
accused attacked the two
journalists who were carrying
out their lawful duties without
just cause.
He said “ Akala attacked the
journalists when they were
on a research mission into
the background and origin of
late Saraki who was reported
to have claimed to be from
Abeokuta.
“Akala bit off Ganiyu’s left
ear, causing grievous harm
and hit Olayiwola on the head
with a camcorder stand. `”It
will interest this court to know
that the journalists were in
Abeokuta from Ilorin to
research the claim that Chief
Olusola Saraki was from this
town.
“As an indigene, I was giving
them the lowdown of how the
late Saraki was related to
Abeokuta, when the accused
came mid-way into the
interview, broke the camera
and turned the venue upside
down.”
The prosecutor added that the
accused also “maliciously
damaged” the journalists’
camcorder valued at
N300,000.
The prosecutor said the
offence contravened Sections
355, 335 and 451 of the
Criminal Code Laws of Ogun,
2006.
The accused, however,
pleaded not guilty to the two-
count charge of assault and
unlawful damage.
Akala, who was not
represented by any counsel,
pleaded that he thougth-journalistswere prospective
buyers invited to inspect his
family property where the
incident took place.
Magistrate Akinyemi granted
bail to the accused in the sum
of N140,000 with two sureties
in like sum and adjourned
further hearing to March 3. www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/man-docked-for-biting-off-journalists-ear/