There was drama on the Lagos State Excessive Courtroom premises when a lawyer, Obinna Okereke, Principal Associate of Excessive Refuge Attorneys, allegedly assaulted a judicial officer, Temilola Ossai, after reportedly hitting her along with his automobile.
Eyewitnesses mentioned the incident occurred close to the courtroom entrance when Okereke, driving a champagne gold-coloured Toyota Sienna bus, allegedly collided with Ossai, a employees member of the Lagos State Judiciary, who was strolling by the roadside.
Sources mentioned the sufferer, on her strategy to the courthouse, approached the lawyer to request an apology for the minor collision. As an alternative of apologising, Okereke reportedly grew to become enraged, verbally abused her, after which assaulted her with a number of blows to the face.
The violent assault allegedly prompted blood to gush from Ossai’s nostril and mouth, drawing the eye of shocked onlookers. Passersby and courtroom customers rapidly intervened to cease the assault earlier than safety personnel hooked up to the Lagos State Judiciary arrived and arrested the lawyer on the scene.
An eyewitness, talking on situation of anonymity, recalled: “The woman merely requested him to apologise after he hit her with the automobile.
However he all of a sudden flared up, shouting at her, and earlier than we knew it, he punched her repeatedly within the face. It was horrible, blood began popping out of her nostril and mouth.”
The incident prompted panic and briefly disrupted actions throughout the courtroom premises as employees and safety officers gathered in confusion and outrage.
It was additional learnt that the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State Judiciary directed {that a} formal criticism be lodged towards Okereke on the Space F Command of the Nigeria Police for investigation and doable prosecution.
At press time, efforts to achieve Okereke for remark had been unsuccessful. Ossai was mentioned to have obtained first assist therapy following the assault.
The Lagos State Judiciary has not but issued an official assertion on the incident.
