Two persons, Miss Nofisat Makanjuola, 32, a hairdresser, and Mr. Blessing Alabi, 27, have been arraigned before Igbosere Magistrate's Court 16, Lagos, over an alleged assault.They were both arraigned by policemen attached to the Adeniji Adele Police Division, Lagos Island, for the offenceWhile Alabi was arraigned on a one-count charge, Miss Makanjuola was arraigned on a three-count charge.The former's charge sheet says that on October 6, this year, about10:30a.m. at No. 29, Ilomo Street, Lagos, she did assault Miss Makanjuola by beating her up and inflicting injuries on her left eye, an offence punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap17, Volume11 Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003. Miss Makanjuola's charge sheet stated that on the same date, time, and address, Alabi and some others conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: malicious damage of Alabi's property and teeth bite at the lower abdomen and assault on the his wife, Jumoke.The two accused, after pleading not guilty, were granted bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties each.Our reporter gathered that before the matter resulted into a fiasco on October 6, the relationship between Miss Makanjuola and Alabui, who are neighbours was like that of the cat and mouse. The face-off that landed both in court started from a petty quarrel, which later snowballed into a bloody assault, counter-assault and the damage of valuables belonging to Alabi, valued at thousands of naira, by Miss Makanjuola.She claimed that she was more affected by the assault, adding that she is more at the receiving end of unfair treatment from the policemen attached to the Adeniji Adele Police Station.She recalled that on the day, about 10:30pm., almost everyone had gone to sleep, when Alabi, who arrived home late, allegedly put on his electricity generating set.According to her, the noise and the smoke from the power generator woke everybody up.She said she had complained several times over this to no avail.She added: 'When I moved closer to redirect the pipe to another direction, he hit me with an object suspected to be screw diver.'Miss Makanjuola, who claimed that she reported the matter to the nearest police station, accused the policemen on duty of partiality, unfair treatment and cover-ups.She said: 'I arrived the station that evening and narrated my ordeal first to a senior police officer, who appeared casual. But, to my surprise, the investigating police officer, Inspector Amusa Isiaka (a.k.a. Babalawo) locked me up in the cell with blood stains all over me and i was forced to pay N2,500 before I was let go the following day.'But, when our reporter visited the Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island, a senior police officer, who would not want his name in print, refuted the allegation of bribery and described Miss Makanjuola as an ungrateful rumour peddler, who is out there to smear the image of the police.Said he: 'I remember the young woman reported here with blood stains all over her about 11:30p.m. I worked late that day and could not get back to my house. I decided to sleep in my office that day. When I saw her, I quickly ran to my office to give her a note to the General Hospital on Broad Street for medical attention and told her to report back as early as possible. 'When she did, I assigned the case to an Inspector for investigations. The IPO swung into action. He instantly invited one Blessing Alabi for interrogation. During the investigation proper, the police discovered so many lies which Nofisat had earlier came here to tell us. 'Nofisat took the laws into her hands. She connived with some group in the area, stormed Blessing's house and almost set him and his wife on fire. Apart from the teeth bites inflicted on Blessing, his wife, Jumoke, too sustained injuries all over her. I think the woman (Miss Makanjuola) is facing charges of assault in court. That explains why she is running from pillar to post. The police in this station will not be intimidated.
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