The police on Thursday brought four women and two men before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting and blackmailing popular Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal.
The six, arraigned before Magistrate A. A. Paul on a four-count charge, are Qudus Jokogbola; Suru Olawale; Edu Shakirat; Fausat Mohammed; Kafayat Ahmed and Opere Simiat Morenike.
The police alleged that the defendants and two others said to be at large, committed the offences on February 5, 2024, at about 1.30p.m, at Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island, Lagos State.
Prosecution counsel Mr. Sola Samuel told the court that the defendants conspired, pushed and dragged Anjorin-Lawal, an action that caused her grievous bodily harm, adding that their actions caused a breach of the peace.
One of the counts reads: “That you Qudus Jokogbola ‘m’, Suru Olawale ‘m’, Edu Shakirat ‘f, Fausat Mohammed ‘f’, Kafayat Ahmed ‘f’, Opere Simiat Morenike ‘f’ and two others at large on Lagos Island…did unlawfully injure the reputation of one Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal when one of you recognized her being an actress in the Nollywood industry by calling her thief, ‘Ole’, ‘Ashawo’, etc also posting it on the internet that she stole at the Lagos Island Market…”
The court heard that the alleged offences contravened sections 411 and 413; 168(d) and 170(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Each defendant pleaded not guilty.
Their six-man team of counsel, led by Mr. Ade Oshodi, prayed the court to admit the defendants in the most liberal terms, adding that they were market men and women.
The magistrate granted the defence’s application and admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of N200 000 with one surety in the like sum, among other terms.
He remanded the defendants in Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) custody, pending the perfection of the bail terms.
The case was adjourned till March 11.
