By Abdulwahab Abdulah

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court Tuesday admitted in evidence the video clips of the alleged assault and sodomy of two women and a minor at the Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo, Lagos.

The video clips in a compact disc (CD) which went viral online in 2014, was shown during proceedings in the court room as part of the evidence in the ongoing trial of 10 persons accused of the sodomy and assault despite opposition of defence counsels; Mr Tunji Busari and Mr Jamilu Basir on the premise that the primary maker of the video clip was unknown.

Justice Ipaye said: “The CD sought to be tendered as evidence was the primary source and reason for the investigation into the assault.The document is compliant with the requirements of Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act, I hereby admit it into evidence.”
The judge after admitting the clip into evidence, ordered members of the public out of the court.
She said: “Members of the public should vacate the court gallery, only the lawyers and the defendants should be present while the video clip is being played.”

A witness, ASP Bassey Uket, while giving his evidence, told the court that two of the assailants were still at large.
Uket said “Nike Salami mentioned one ‘Abilore’ and one ‘Tiri’ as members of the OPC who perpetuated the assault.

“She watched the clip of the assault and was able to identify the men and describe their roles in the assault. They are currently on the run and have since been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force.”

Those standing trial for the alleged torture and sodomy are the market leader, Isiaka Waidi (61), Buhari Yusuf (22), Abdullahi Haruna (20) and Saheed Adisa (29).
Others are Lateef Tijani (37), Ahmed Adisa (65),Azeez Akinosun (36), Jimoh Busari (50), Adekunle Adenuga (38) and Oloruntoyin Dauda (46), the woman leader of the market.
They are facing a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty.
The defendants, who are alleged by the prosecution to be members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), had allegedly tortured and sodomized Mrs Ajoke Agomo, her daughter, Nike Salami and her step daughter, Juliana Agomo over allegations of pepper theft.

Another witness, Olabisi Adejumo, a policewoman attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) told the court that investigations into the assault and sodomy commenced in January 2014.
She said “The FSARS took over investigations into the crime from the Ejigbo division of the Nigeria Police Force under the directive of the then Inspector General of Police (IGP).”
Adejumo told the court that Waidi the first defendant confessed to extorting N50,000 from Mr Freeman Agomo, as a fine for the pepper that his daughters allegedly stole.
She added “My team also went to the market to look for the owner of the mystery pepper that was allegedly stolen but no one admitted that their pepper was stolen.”