In a distressing turn of events, a man named Adekunle Olowopopo and his brother, Mayowa Olowopopo have been charged with assaulting their sister, Bisi Olowopopo, and stealing their father’s property at his residence in Lakwe Lekki, Lagos State.
Quest Times reports that the Olowopopos were on Monday, arraigned before Magistrate O. M. Ajayi sitting before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court on five counts bordering on threat to life, breach of peace, assault, breaking and stealing.
According to the prosecutor, Paul Ugorji, the defendants committed the crime sometime in 2019 when their father, Adeleke Olowopopo, was out of the country.
It was alleged that the Olowopopos broke into their father’s compound, assaulted their elder sister, and chased her out of the house. They then proceeded to stealing a Toyota 4 Runner Jeep valued at N7 million and a block molding machine without their father’s authorization.
Further investigation revealed that the animosity between the brothers and their sister stems from a misunderstanding between their father and their second wife, the mother of Adekunle and Mayowa. This family feud has undoubtedly contributed to the escalation of the situation.
The charges against the Olowopopos read in part:
“That you, Adekunle Olowopopo, 35, and Mayowa Olowopopo, 33, sometime in 2019 at Lakwe Lekki, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit assault, stealing, breaking and entry and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Adekunle Olowopopo ‘m’ and Mayowa Olowopopo, sometime in 2019, did assault one Adebisi Olowopopo, your elder sister, by beating her with fist blows and chasing her out of the compound and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 172 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Adekunle Olowopopo and Mayowa Olowopopo, sometime in 2019, on the above date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal a Toyota 4 Runner Jeep valued at N7m and a block moulding machine, properties of Adeleke Olowopopo and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
It was further gathered that the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, as Magistrate Ajayi has admitted them to bail in the sum of N40,000 with one responsible surety.
In light of these events, Magistrate Ajayi has advised the family to seek reconciliation and resolve their differences peacefully, with the case adjourned until December 12, 2023, for trial.
