Drama ensues in Lagos courtroom as defendant defecates during the course of his trial

DRAMA ensued at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday when defendant Avekpon Bernard charged with conduct likely to cause breach of the peace defecated during the course of his trial creating pandemonium.

 

Mr Bernard, 18, who was charged alongside 22 others, excreted in the dock, while the court registrar was reading the charge to the defendants. He had earlier told the investigating police officer that he was pressed and wanted to use the toilet just before the court started sitting but was refused as the policeman told him that he cannot leave the other defendants.

 

Not being allowed to use the lavatory, Bernard, who was sweating profusely and obviously could not hold on any more, excreted when the trial started, fouling the courtroom. Asked what was happening, the defendant said he had excreted and he was subsequently taken outside the court.

 

Other defendants standing trial for the offence include Samuel Nnamdi, 28; Emmanuel Shakiru, 25; Okpe John, 26; Clement Ogar, 28; Donald Lowatur, 23; Monday Mbang, 21; Matthew Sunday, 22; Fran-cis Esthaphanus, 22; Kennis John, 26; Romero Dossu, 37; Makande Samson, 34; Utibe Sunday, 45; Dona Afonyo, 35 and Rasheed Kogbe, 38. Others are Adam Monda, 23; Glegbe Alfred, 27; Rubben Lokosso, 26; Benjamin Nicodemus, 33; Edwe Gbovis, 18; Samson Dimeji, 20; Augustine Okon, 32 and Adebayo Dauda, 26. They were alleged to have conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the alleged offence.

 

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge. Sergeant Ajaga Agboko, the prosecutor told the court that the incident took place on September 17, at 3.30pm, at Otodo Gbame Community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

 

However, the magistrate, Mrs A Ogunbowale, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. She adjourned the case to October 6, for trial.