Police arraign man ‘who boasted about beating wife on Facebook’

The Lagos state police command has arraigned Afobaje Maiyegun before an Igbosere magistrates’ court for allegedly beating his wife and boasting about it on his Facebook page.

Maiyegun was arrested by the police on Thursday after his post showing injuries he allegedly inflicted on his wife went viral on social media.

But while appearing before the court on Friday, the Lagos-based man pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of assault occasioning harm and offensive publication.

Shinaolu Adeoye, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 5, at 12:13p.m, at Maiyegun town, Jakande Estate, Eti-Osa local government area of the state.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant unlawfully assaulted Mariam Gabriel by beating her with his fist on her forehead.

“The defendant injured the victim on her forehead and posted an inciting and provoking publication about the incident on his facebook page,” he said.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 57 and 173 of the criminal law of Lagos state, 2015. Section 57 of the said law provides for a six months jail term or a fine of N90, 000 while section 173 provides three years imprisonment on conviction if found guilty.

Adeoye urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional centre and asked for an adjournment date for the commencement of trial.

In a swift reaction, Mustapha Danesi, the defendant’s counsel, urged the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms, adding that the matter was as a result of family crisis.

In her ruling, Folake Oshin, the magistrate, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must be a cleric and a family member to the defendant.

She directed the court registrar to verify the addresses of the sureties who must be tax payers in the state. The case was adjourned until June 22, for mention.