A palm wine tapper, Firma Agomo, said on Wednesday that his daughter, Juliana, died after being tortured for allegedly stealing pepper at the Oba Morufu International Market in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.
Agomo said this while testifying against the Baba Oloja (market leader), Isiaka Waidi, and nine others who were being prosecuted for the torture of Juliana, her sister, Nike, and mother, Ajoke.
The three victims were reportedly beaten, stripped naked, while stick and pepper were inserted into their private parts on the allegation that they stole pepper at the market.
Waidi and others are facing 15 counts before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over the incident which occurred in 2013.
Agomo testified as the prosecution’s fourth witness before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye on Wednesday.
Led in evidence by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, Agomo narrated how his wife and daughters were beaten in his presence under the supervision of Baba Oloja.
He said his plea to stop the torture of his wife and daughters fell on deaf ears, adding that the defendants demanded N150,000 from him before they could be released.
Agomo testified that the defendants, after much pleading, later agreed to release the victims on bail in the sum of N50,000.
He said he was, however, only able to raise N20,000 from some mechanics in the area, adding that he was made to sign an undertaking to pay the balance of N30,000 within a month.
“They caned the three of them in my presence. I was helpless and unable to do anything.
“After a while they (the defendants) told me that I needed to bail them before they could be released. They asked me to bring N150,000 to bail my wife and children.
“That was around 5pm and three of my friends were with me, pleading with the defendants to release them, before they eventually agreed to take N50,000.
“They said if I did not get the money before 7pm they would kill my wife and children.
“I had some people in the area who were mechanics. They were the ones that my friends approached to raise N20,000. I gave the N20,000 to Baba Oloja. After the payment, I was made to sign an undertaking that I will pay the remaining N30,000 within one month.”
Agomo added that one Hammed Adisa asked his landlord to eject him and his wife, adding that they were ejected around 10pm on the day of the incident.
“My daughter, Juliana, took her children and moved to her sister’s place. Nike and her mother went somewhere else. My two sons and I left too, but we later came back to sleep in the house.
“Three days later, Juliana fell sick, complaining that she was feeling pains all over her body and heat from inside.”
Agomo said he took his daughter with the rest of the family to his village, Ajase Village, close to Cotonou, where Juliana was hospitalised.
He added that rather than get better, Juliana’s condition deteriorated, leading to her being taken to a herbs seller’s shop after which she died.
Ipaye adjourned till October 14 and 15, 2015, for continuation of trial.
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