Police arraign driver for abandoning pregnant wife

The police have arraigned a 27 year old commercial bus driver, Oluwole Ajao, before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly neglecting his five-month pregnant partner, Yewande Awofeso, and attempting suicide while in the police cell.

The police said Ajao abducted Awofeso, 20, from her parent’s custody between December 2012 and July 21, 2013 before impregnating her without her parent’s consent.

He was alleged to have also abandoned Yewande at Somolu General Hospital, Lagos,for seven days, and failed to contribute to her ante-natal care.

The three counts added that after his arrest, he attempted to commit suicide in the police cell by hanging himself “in the burglary of the cell.”

The charge read in part, “That you, Oluwole Ajao, m, between December 2012 and 21st July, 2013 at No 17, Jebina Street, Bariga, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did abduct one Yewande Awofeso, f, aged 20 years, from custody of her parent, with intent to marry and to have sexual intercourse with her, without her parents’ consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 267 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, Oluwole Ajao, m, on the July 29, 2013, at about 2pm, at Bariga Police Station, Bariga Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did attempt to commit suicide by hanging yourself in the burglary of the cell and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant said he was not guilty of the charges.

In his testimony, the defendant said he did not abandon his lover in the hospital but had gone to work for money, and had been sending money to her through her sister.

This was confirmed in court as the woman was asked to rise and attest to the statement.

There was also no evidence to show Ajao abducted Awofeso as the police claimed or that their union had not been by mutual consent.

The magistrate, Mrs. M.O Ladipo, said the case lacked merit, saying it was a “love affair” that could be sorted out among the parties involved.

The matter was subsequently struck out.