Man battered 60-yr-old brother’s wife over property, accuses her of witchcraft

A 60-year-old woman, Mrs. Olufunke Labinjo, who hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, South west Nigeria, was allegedly battered by her husband’s younger brother, Kamoru Labinjo, for resisting an attempt by him to forcibly take over the management of her sick husband’s property.

The accused was alleged to have assaulted the complainant in public by raining blows on her face several times.
The incident happened when Kamoru insisted on taking inventory of the buildings owned by his sick brother, Alhaji Shamsideen Labinjo, and asked Olufunke to take him to the location of the properties.

It was learnt that Kamoru allegedly beat her, while questioning her rights to collect rents on her husband’s property.
Olufunke, a legitimate wife and mother of one, sustained injuries on her head in the process and was admitted int Shomolu General Hospital, Lagos.

The distraught woman reported the matter to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi,Lagos.
The accused, Kamoru Olabinjo, who resides at No 9, Alhaji Masha Road, Surulere, Lagos State, was subsequently arrested by detectives from the Lagos State Police Command; and was arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court on November 3, 2017 for assault. The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him.

In the suit number MIK/A/250/17, Commissioner of Police versus Kamoru Labinjo, the police told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 22, 2017 at Balogun Market area of Lagos Island.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs C.M.I Aje Afunwa granted the accused bail in a sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday December 13.
Meanwhile, the distraught woman has filed a suit against the accused for causing her bodily injuries, falsehood and assault.

In the suit filed at a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos Island, the claimant is demanding the sum of N15 million as damages and perpetual injunctions restraining the accused and police from subjecting her to arrest, detention , harassment , meddling in her matrimonial home and her husband’s business or property.

Joined in the suit, marked: LD/42796 CM as second defendant, is the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
The claimant averred that she was arrested and detained by men of the second defendant at the instance of the first defendant, and that she was assaulted by the first defendant on her way to shop.

She also averred that the incessant harassment by the police at the instance of the first defendant had gravely affected her reputation to the extent that her business associates are cautious of doing business with her.

She further averred that part of the rumours being peddled by the first defendant was that she was responsible for her husband’s health condition; and that she is a witch.
The matter was to be heard on November 21 by Justice A.M. Lawal, but the judge went on retreat, while no new date has been fixed for the hearing.

Ganiyu Obaroo