Husband And Wife Fight: Edo AG Takes Over Case

By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City

Edo Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yinka Omorogbe, on Monday took over the prosecution of a husband, Osamudiamen Odia, 29, who allegedly assaulted his wife, before an Oredo Magistrates’ court in Benin.

The application to take over the case by the attorney general was not unconnected to the fact that the complainant had expressed dissatisfaction with the charge preferred against the defendant by the police.

The representative of the state Ministry of Justice, Senior State Counsel, Mrs. Evelyn Okhuorobo, had presented an application signed by  Prof. Omorogbe before the court  to take over the case from the Commissioner of Police.

The letter read in part, ” ……….By the powers granted to me by  Section 21(1)(b) of the 1919 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I hereby take over COP vs  Osamudiamen  Odia matter.

“kindly direct that the original case file be forwarded to us for opinion and possible prosecution.”

Consequently, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Osifo Ehigiegba adjoined the case till Aug. 26, for hearing.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Police had  on Aug. 14, arraigned Odia for allegedly assaulting his wife, Becky Solo  before Magistrate  Stephen  Ugah of Evboriaria Magistrates’ court in Benin.

Ugah  later transferred the case to Oredo Magistrates’ court after a plea was taken because his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

He also granted the defendant bail after he pleaded not guilty to the three count charge, bothering on assault, causing of harm and unlawful damage  of complaints phone preferred against him.

The defendant on July 26, at Amagba community in Benin, was alleged to have driven his Mercedes ML Jeep recklessly to hit his wife, thereby causing her harm and also slapped her.

The offence contravenes Section 355, 351, and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48, Vol. 11, Law of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, now applicable in Edo.

The case was adjourned  till Aug. 26, for  hearing.

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