Adebayo Adenrele
The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti has granted the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice order to take over the prosecution of one Joy Ikoja, 20, who allegedly inflicted injury on the manhood of her boyfriend, Ibrahim Usman.
The mother of two was recently arraigned before the court by the Ekiti State Police Command for unlawfully inflicting wound on her boyfriend by tearing his scrotal sac at Irona area, Ado-Ekiti on 12th April, 2025.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch not satisfied with the previous charge, wrote to the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution of the lady, citing the prevalence of violence against men in recent times.
The branch noted that the act of the defendant strongly amounts to attempted murder punishable with life imprisonment under the section 241 of the criminal law of Ekiti State, 2021.
During the court hearing, the deputy director of Public Prosecution, Ekitit State, F.O Awoniyi said he has the instruction of the Honourable Attorney General of the State, Dayo Apata, SAN to take over the case, requesting that the original case file be transferred to the office of the Public Prosecution for review.
He noted that the practice of violence against men is becoming rampant in the state and should not be encouraged, adding that the defendant was arraigned before the court two weeks ago for a similar offense but a passionate plea on the nominal complainant brought about pending withdrawal and settlement.
Counsel to the defendant, David Ogbede orally applied for the bail of the accused, urging the court not to be silent in the interest of justice.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola denied the bail application and granted the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice the order to prosecute the defendant, urging them to accelerate the case charge.
He adjourned the case to 12th May, 2025 for further heating.
