Domestic violence update: Mercy Aigbe trial stalls again
The late arrival of allegedly battered Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe on Wednesday stalled the commencement of trial of her estranged husband, Olanrewaju Gentry, before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court.
Gentry is facing charges bordering on domestic violence offences for allegedly beating and inflicting injuries on his wife contrary to provisions of Protection Against Domestic Violence and Connected Purposes Law of Lagos State 2007.
The estranged couple was scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Mrs. Folakemi Davies- Abegunde on Wednesday.
Gentry, who appeared in court dressed in a white wool buba and sokoto with a matching black and brown leather palm sandal to match, arrived in court as early as 9am yesterday.
The applicant, Mercy Aigbe, was to tender before the court the medical report of the alleged domestic violence meted on her by her estranged husband.
Gentry on the other hand, was to show cause why the restraining order made April 28, 2017 that he should not come within a mile radius of his wife and their two children should not be made permanent by the court.
Mercy had applied for the restraining order in line with sections 5(1), 1(3) and section 7(1) of Protection Against Domestic Violence and Connected Purposes Law 2007.
Another matter before the family court, it learnt, bordered on the custody of their two children.
At about 11.05 a.m. yesterday, when the court clerk first called their matter , the couple were not within air shot.
When the matter was called again at 11.25 am, only Gentry responded and went inside the chamber of the Chief Magistrate with his counsel.
He came out about 18 minutes later at about 11.43 a.m. and immediately departed the court premises with his counsel.
Mercy surfaced minutes after, in company of her counsel, Uche Ani and proceeded into the Chief Magistrate’s chamber.
They came out few minutes after, having obtained the date of adjournment of the matter.
Chief Magistrate Davies-Abegunde has adjourned the matter till June 28.
