Suspect’s Hand Chopped Off in Lagos for Allegedly Stealing Car Headlight

22 June 2011

Lagos — A Surulere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday heard with consternation how an accused had his right hand chopped off with a cutlass by a complainant for allegedly stealing the headlight of a Honda car.

The accused, Collins Okeke, 30, told the court that the complainant, Tunde Osubu, chopped off his hand, put it inside a black bag and buried it before reporting the alleged theft to the police.

Okeke, a hair dresser, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing the head light of a Honda car belonging to Osubu.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Ishola Samuel told the court that the offence was committed on June 17 at 17, Oniwinde St., Aguda, Surulere.

Okeke, whose severed arm was bleeding while in the dock, told the court that he had been treated only once since his arrest six days ago.

“I have been in police custody for five days and have not been treated after the first treatment I got, ” he said.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Peter Nwachukwu, urged the court to charge the complainant to court.

“It is unfortunate that a head light was assumed stolen by the accused and people decided to cut off his hand.

“Constitutionally, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is the law of the land.

“For the interest of justice, I appeal to the court to order the police to charge the complainant, Osubu, to court, ” Nwachukwu said.

Osubu, however, denied cutting off Okeke’s hand and instead put the blame on the vigilante group at Oniwinde St. where Okeke was accused of stealing.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Aderemi Gbajumo, who was appalled by the matter, ordered the police to investigate the hand cutting.

She also ordered that medical papers be issued immediately to ensure the accused received medical treatment.

Gbajumo granted Okeke N5000 bail with one surety in like sum to enable him receive immediate treatment and adjourned till July 20 for further hearing.

NAN

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