Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
There was a mild drama at the magistrates’ court sitting in Yenagoa Magisterial District of Bayelsa State over the whisking away of a 45-year-old trader, Esther Maduka who was brought to court to be prosecuted for alleged charges of breach of peace and malicious damage.
Esther Maduka, who is a trader at the popular Swali Market, was arrested by the policemen attached to the Azikoro Divisional Police Command and a charge of two counts bordering on alleged breach of peace and unlawful and malicious damage against one Osigwe Jude, was brought against her.
In the charge sheet numbered YMC/13c/2024 and marked Commissioner of Police versus Esther Maduka, showed that “Count 1: On the 28th of December, 2023 at shop No. D8 Swali Market, Yenagoa in the Yenagoa Magisterial District being a public place did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by telling one Osigwe Jude ‘m’ that in no distance time she will pursue him out of Swali Market and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 186 of the criminal code law Cap C14, Laws of Bayelsa State,2006.
“Count 2: That you, Esther Maduka ‘F’ on the 28th day of December 2023 at shop No.D8 Swali Market, Yenagoa in Yenagoa Magisterial District did unlawfully and maliciously damage one Alamco Swing door valued at N670,000 property of one Osigwe Jude ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence under section 378 of the criminal code law of Bayelsa State,2006.”
It was gathered that while the accused was brought to the magistrate court and her charge sheet prepared, policemen on the order of Officer Commanding the Monitoring Unit of Zone 16, Beson Adetuyi, whisked her away to the shock of the policemen and court workers on duty.
It was gathered that when the Presiding Magistrate, Chief Magistrate entered the court and was briefed by the Police Counsel on the incident, he fumed and ordered that the accused be brought back to court to face the charges.
Sources close to the suit informed newsmen that the Officer Commanding the Monitoring Unit of Zone 16, Beson Adetuyi, was also alleged to have threatened to deal with a female lawyer, Judith Otobo, Esq and the complainant, Osigwe Jude for filing the case against the accused as against his instruction that the case be withdrawn from the Azikoro Division and brought to Zone 16 office.
The complainant, Osigwe Jude, who is also the chairman of the Igbo Traders at the Swali Market, told newsmen that since the incident and the alleged police threat, he had abandoned his residence.
“I am afraid for my life and that of my brothers. Since the onslaught against me by this woman, I have been detained three times unlawfully by the police,” Jude said.
According to him, the dispute between him and the woman started with her violation of the provision laid down by the association over the acquisition of shops in the market.
He added: “She even accused me of beating up a female policewoman. But a witness who recorded the altercation on video with a mobile phone forgave me.”
Contacted about the issue, the spokesperson of the Zone 16 Command, CSP Ikwo Kevin, said she had not been briefed on the development and promised to look into the matter.