PRESS RELEASE

 

RE “ALLEGED ABUSE OF POWER BY A LAGOS MAGISTRATE”

 

The attention of the Lagos State Judiciary has been drawn to various online stories with the caption ‘’Abuse of Power’’ as well as a Publication in the Vanguard Newpapers of Wednesday 23rdMarch, 2016 titled ‘’How Magistrate remanded my wife after their cars brushed.’’ A Lagos State Magistrate, Mrs Funke Sule-Amzat was alleged to have ordered the detention of one Yetunde Osijo at the Kirikiri Prison on Monday 21st March 2016 for hitting her car.  It was alleged that the Magistrate ordered that Yetunde Osijo should be arrested and arraigned before her at the Ogudu Chief Magistrate Court. It was further alleged that the Magistrate promptly ordered that she should be detained at the Kirikiri Prisons without legal representation.

 

 

The Magistrate’s version of the incident is as follows ‘That on Monday 21st March, 2016 around9.am on her way to work, close to Abiola Gardens, Ojota, a car brushed her car from behind.  The Magistrate’s driver alighted from the car and Yetunde Osijo who drove the car rained abuses on the driver and his master.  The Magistrate stepped out to see the extent of the damage only for Yetunde Osijo to speed off in a dangerous manner.  She was eventually arrested by men of the Rapid Response Squad at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and taken to Area H, Police Command.

 

The Area Commander made an attempt to resolve the matter but Yetunde Osijo insisted on calling her husband who came in and became very boastful.

 

Together with his wife Yetunde Osijo, he uttered words like’’ She is the daughter of the former Clerk of the House of Assembly,’’ ‘’We own Lagos State,’’ ‘’Tunde Disu gave me fuel yesterday for my car,’’ ‘’ I dined with the Governor last week,’’ ‘’A common Magistrate cannot hold us to ransom,’’ ‘’We will report to the Chief Judge and she will be punished for this,’’ ‘’My father will see to it,’’ and many more. At that juncture, the Magistrate said the Law should take its course and left for her Court’’.

 

The true position is that the Magistrate upon the occurrence of the incident lodged a report with the Police, who effected an arrest and upon investigation arraigned the suspect before the Chief Magistrate Court Ogba presided over by Mr.T.A Elias.  She was immediately admitted to bail on liberal terms and the matter was adjourned for mention.

 

The suspect was never arraigned before the complainant Mrs. Funke Sule-Amzat and she made no order or take any step in respect of the matter. The matter is presently pending before the Court for determination.

 

Signed  

 

Chief Registrar

High Court of Lagos State

23rd March 2016