12th July, 2010
There was a mild drama at the Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, presided by Mrs. S.O. Solebo when a 22-year old accused, Tunde Babatunde, pretended to be a dumb man.
But the magistrate beat him to his game by ordering that he should be remanded in prison custody until he was ready to make a plea.
Following this, the accused opened his mouth and pleaded with the court not to send him to prison. He confessed that he was not dumb but pretending.
The accused was charged to court for attempting to steal money from a trader, Mrs. Ebunolowa Oladebo, while asleep at the Mechanic Village, Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, Lagos.
He was unlucky as the complainant woke up and discovered him before he ran away.
The trader reported the incident to the police at Ejigbo and the accused was arrested and charged to court for unlawful entry, an offence contrary to Section 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 31, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charge was read to him, he pretended to be dumb and the magistrate asked the investigation police officer if he was dumb but the latter replied in the negative.
The magistrate ordered that since he was not ready to talk, he should be remanded in prison custody, but he quickly opened his mouth and made a plea.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe