Absentee father in court for beating wife, abducting son

Opeoluwa Olorunjuedalo, a 32-year-old electrician, was brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for allegedly beating his wife for refusing to hand over his son to him.

Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, the Police Prosecutor, told the court that the accused, who now faced a two-count charge of breach of peace and assault, committed the offences sometime in November 2015 at Liasu Street, Akute.

“The accused left the complainant last August and he came back in November to take his five-year-old son.

“The complainant prevented him from taking their son away and the accused beat her and forcefully took away the boy.”

The offences contravened Sections 168 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). Section 173 prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mrs O.I. Raji, the Magistrate, granted him bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until June 23 for mention.