Two Charged For Bathing Sleeping Trader With Acid

Sherift Agbaje

Two persons -Taiwo Akinola and Maria Taiwo- have been charged to court by the Ogun State Police Command for their role in an acid attack on a trader, Mrs. Sherift Agbaje.
Agbaje was reportedly attacked with acid at her temporary abode at Ifo in Ifo Local Government of Ogun State in her sleep on the night of April 23, 2013.
We had on September 26, 2013, reported that an unknown assailant had crept up to Agbaje’s window, bathed her with acid and fled when she raised the alarm.
Agbaje’s face, chest and arms were severely burned in the attack; she however miraculously escaped being blinded as her eyes were closed at the time.

As of the time of the publication, no one had been apprehended by the state command in connection with the attack.
In a recent development however, Akinola and Taiwo were said to have been arraigned two weeks ago at a Magistrate Court in Ogun State.
Both were reportedly charged on two counts.

Agbaje’s husband, Tunde, told press that he was informed by the Ifo Police Division that two persons were charged in connection with the attack on his wife.

“Akinola is known to my wife; he is a mechanic and lives within her community at Ifo. Taiwo is also known to my wife; her husband is dead and she runs a church at Ifo. They are both acquaintances to my wife,” Tunde said.

Akinola had, prior to the attack on Agbaje, allegedly made amorous overtures to the mother of six, who rejected his advances.
He is suspected to also be romantically involved with Taiwo.

When we contacted the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he confirmed the arraignment.
Adejobi said, “Akinola and Taiwo, who were arrested during the course of investigation, were arraigned on September 27, 2013, at the Magistrate’s Court One, Ota, for conspiracy and wounding.”
Meanwhile, Agbaje, who is still writhing in pains, is reportedly undergoing treatment at the Sango General Hospital.

Correspondence made available to us with the Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, India, revealed that Agbaje had suffered a contracture neck,  a contracture right Axilla, contractures around her face, including scarred eyelids and a deformed nose.
She is said to require nasal reconstruction, release and grafting of her eyelids, a skin graft and the use of pressure garments after the plastic surgery among others, of which the total procedure is estimated to cost $21,800, excluding travel costs.

Already, two of Agbaje’s children are said to have been offered scholarship by a certain Rev. Bamidele Ayowolo at Sagamu, Ogun State.
Tunde said, “Ayowolo got in touch with me and offered to assist me by offering two of my children scholarship to secondary school. He said they would have to write tests first to determine what classes would be suitable for them.”

October 18, 2013