Man Jumps Into Canal To Avoid Trial

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A suspected fraudster who resides in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, Olayinka Salau, tried to avoid trial by fleeing from an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Lagos and jumping into a canal under a heavy rainfall.

•Salau being taken back to court after he was re-arrested from the canal. PHOTO: CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The suspect caught the court officials unawares when he escaped while entering the court room.

The 35-year old Salau was, however, re-arrested by the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Akinkumi Muni, who also jumped into the canal and brought him back to the court for prosecution.
As the suspect fled the court, Muni ran after him and jumped into the canal with the suspect where they both engaged in a scuffle as the IPO tried to stop him from escaping.

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Salau was initially arrested by the police at Area ‘M’ Command, Idimu, for allegedly stealing N430,000 belonging to his lover, Afunku Adeshola.

Adeshola, who is a travel agent, explained that her client gave her the money and she gave it to Salau to keep for her on their way to a bank to deposit the money.

She alleged that Salau convinced her to give him the money so that thieves would not dispossess her of the money on their way to the bank.

She said she gave him the money because she trusted him since they have been dating for four months and their parents knew about their relationship.

Adeshola alleged that she did not t know that Salau had an ulterior motive of stealing the money to travel abroad.

She said she was shocked when Salau ran away with the money along the road at Ijagemo area on the outskirts of Lagos.

After the incident, Adeshola reported the matter at Idimu Police Command and he was arrested and detained at the station.

Salau reportedly admitted that he collected the money, explaining that he needed the money to travel back to South Africa where he was deported to Nigeria.

When he was rearrested and arraigned in court, he was charged with stealing under the Criminal Code.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Nicholas Atumonye, opposed his bail on the ground that he will jump bail considering how he tried to escape from the court.

However, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami granted him bail in the sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The court also ordered that the parents of the victim and the accused should appear in court since they knew about their relationship.

The matter was adjourned till 18 July and the suspect was remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.



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