An unemployed man, Solomon Okon, has been in police custody for over a month for allegedly drinking a poisonous substance.

It was learnt that the 21-year-old, who was a porter at Havana Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, drank the poisonous substance after receiving a letter terminating his employment.

A relative of Okon told The PUNCH that the incident happened in August, adding that the suspect had since been charged to court.

He said, “Okon was working at Havana Hospital and received N35, 000 a month. He was squatting with a friend and was using part of the money to take care of his mother in Akwa Ibom. In August, he received a letter terminating his employment.

“Out of frustration, he ingested a poisonous substance. However, because it all happened in the hospital, he was quickly attended to and was able to recover to some extent. The hospital management reported the matter to the Barracks Police Station and then he was arrested and detained.”

The PUNCH learnt that the police arraigned Okon before a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba for attempted suicide.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Okon was still in police custody.

He said, “The case has been taken to court. He was arraigned on August 28, 2020, before Magistrate Patrick N of Court two Yaba. Adjournment date: October 15, 2020. He is remanded in police facility at Surulere.”

Okon, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It was learnt that the magistrate granted Okon bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties.

Okon’s relative told The PUNCH that there was no way they could afford the sum.

He said, “This young man tried to commit suicide because of poverty and frustration. Rather than get him a job, he is being detained and money is being demanded from him. This young man needs help. He needs assistance. He needs medical attention and counselling.

“The hospital tried by giving him medical treatment but it shouldn’t have reported the guy to the police. Now, we are all running all over the place. We need human rights lawyers to assist us.”

Attempts to get a reaction from the hospital proved abortive as a representative refused to speak on the matter and asked our correspondent to visit the hospital.

“You will need to come to the hospital. This is not a matter that we can discuss on the telephone,” she said.

Attempted suicide is a criminal offence in Nigeria under Section 327 of the Criminal Code and it attracts a penalty of up to one year in prison which human rights groups describe as immoral.

According to the 2016 Global Health Observatory data repository of the World Health Organisation, there is an estimated 9.5 suicides per 100,000 Nigerians.

Reports have it that the figure may now be higher due to a worsening unemployment rate and rising poverty levels.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/police-detain-jobless-youth-for-attempted-suicide-court-grants-n200000-bail/%3famp=1

Lol @Jobless youth. When he now decided to be self employed his first job was to commit sucide and he failed in it. That must have really annoyed the police to have arrested him. An idle man they say is the devil's workshop. For Naija some persons don find job sotay even the devil's workshop no dey accept applications again.

Face whatever life brings to you! Don't you ever ever give up! If only we knew what most successful people went through or are still going through before getting to the top, we will not only want to enjoy their riches but also share in their pains. May God help us all.

H

Owo ti o si, jedijedi kan o le gba.

If you know, you know.

Madness. There are some things that happen in human society that will make you realize that humans are still evolving and not so much has changed from the last 500 years.

Na where u dey see police active.why not allow d dude to commit his suicide in peace.abi na ur suicide.where he wun come get 200k.sey if he get 200k he go dey tink of suicide in d first place.double wahala for half deadi body

Double wahala!

Now he don buy 200000 market.

All those that can't help him start a business or get him a job will now be running helter-skelter to contribute the 200k for him so he will be bailed.

If he has 200k,will he attempt to commit suicide . Imagine the judge granting him 200k bail. Both the policeman and the judge are not serious

Mehhn!
Kai wallahi!!
200K on top
Ogbeni olopa!! That young mahn ain't got no bucks to pay, uh!
Make em' free am, abeg

Haha

Mad leaders. Mad country. Independence day my foot. So many jobless youths roaming the streets from Monday to Friday. Una never see anything. You have disengaged 500000 thousand Npower graduates with nothing to fall back to. You watch and see. Clueless government celebrating independence

The hospital saved his life but the court and police worsened his situation...

This is Nigeria... someone who needs rehabilitation is fined...

It is well...

ekk

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On top his own life kwanu?

a man cant attempt suicide in peace without the courts getting involvved ?

Serves him right. All the Sai baba chanters must be alive to enjoy the fruit of their labour.

Rubbish Judicial system

Hahahahahaha. 200k he will use and plan life, police wan collect. lol

Person cannot come and kill himself in peace,
Imagine 200000k bail on top person way wan kill himself,
They for just kukuma kill him nah

Okon’s relative told The PUNCH that there was no way they could afford the sum.

He said, “This young man tried to commit suicide because of poverty and frustration. Rather than get him a job, he is being detained and money is being demanded from him. This young man needs help. He needs assistance. He needs medical attention and counselling.

I don't tire for Nigeria and her security operatives,
I'm speechless aswear, this is the highest level of idiocy I've ever seen.

In case you don't know, attempted suicide used to be against the law, oddly enough, in the UK. It was decrimiminlised in 1961(see the Suicide Act 1961). Still, some forms of suciide, eg medically assisted scide are illegal there.

Obvioously Nigeria, which uses a legal system derived in part from UK common law , still considers sucide illegal here. Time foor the National Assembly to look into it....though that is another matter...

Jobless youth indeed

Chatflick:
On top his own life kwanu?

Anaerobi:
Hahahahahaha.
200k he will use and plan life, police wan collect. lol

He Taya me

Person no get job and wan die you dey file am 200k.

Suicide gone wrong. Police will still collect money from him.

The frustrated guy decided to commit suicide, he is jailed and won't be bailed till he pays 200k...from where??
.
This country is the worst! Bunch of clowns.