Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) leadership and members in Osun State have stormed a Magistrate Court sitting in Ede, Ede North Local Government Area of the state to give support and solidarity for their colleague on Monday.
Mrs Inaolaji Sadia Adekilekun is a teacher of CAC Government School, Talafia, Ede, who was allegedly beaten by one Adeojo Sodiq and his gang on 24th January, 2019.
The 20 year-old Sadiq, who is a native of Ede, had earlier been charged for the offence, was re-arraigned on three fresh charges bothering on: disruption of public peace, conspiracy and assault.
It would be recalled that the accused was earlier charged for conspiring with his accomplices, who are currently at large, to beat the teacher, Mrs Adekilekun that day around 9:30 am in her school premises.
However, when the substituted charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty to all the allegations against him.
The accused person had earlier been arraigned in January on three count charges which he pleaded guilty and was granted bail in the sum of 100,000 with one surety.
Prosecutor, Principal Investigator of Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Opeyemi Adeniran told the court that they have submitted an application to strike out the initial litigation and came with a fresh substituted charge.
Reacting to the substituted application, the Defence counsel to the suspect, Prince Niran Ojekale who told the court that he was just seeing the new application, however said he is not objecting to it in order not to cause unduly delay.
The court struck out the former charges and adopted the new charges.
Prince Ojekale told the court that the court can still take it judicial decision which was taken on it previous ruling on January where the accused person was granted bail, saying since then the accused person has not been forced to appear before the court.
Ojekale further said that he has never influenced the case since its commencement, the suspect is ready to stand his trial with his surety also in the court and noting that his being in custody will not assist the matter
“The accused person is ready to assist the prosecutor in arresting his gang” he stressed.
He also prayed the court to grant the accused person bail promising that he will not jump bail if granted
But Prosecutor opposed the bail application by the prosecutor who said the victim is presently on a critical condition.
The presiding magistrate, I.O. Oyebadejo in her ruling ordered the prosecutor to present the complainant before the court and order evidences warned that she will otherwise strike out the case.
She however granted a bail of 200,000 thousand naira to the accused person with one surety gainfully employed and resident within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case till March 4 for hearing.
The state chairman of Nigerian union of Teachers, Comrade Wakil Amuda told newsmen after the court that the union is not relenting saying all necessary actions are going on in order to see that the suspect and his gang are judicially dealt with.
He further said that the union is presently enjoying support from the state government of Osun on the case adding that the state counsel will appear in court at the next adjourned day.
He urged the teachers to continue to be diligent in their profession, promised that his leadership will never allow their rights to be infringed by hoodlum.
(NAN)
