Wife of House of Reps member accused of torturing two women

Wife of a serving House of Representatives member was fingered yesterday in the torture, beating and alleged attempt to kidnap two ladies in Isale Eko area of Lagos.

Sources say that yesterday morning at about 7.15a.m, a Toyota Camry car which was used for the operation caused a stir in Bamgbose Street in Lagos Island at the heart of Lagos metropolis.

Like a bolt from the blue, six unidentified ladies, carrying canes came out of the unregistered grey coloured car and advanced towards No 101, Bamgbose Street.

The unmasked ladies met one Alhaja Basidat Ajadi Balogun, a business woman resident in the street and repeatedly flogged her as she wept. (The woman pictured above)

Balogun, who was shouting at the top of her voice while the beating was going on, tried without success to find out from the rampaging ladies why she was being beaten.

According to a resident of the street, who pleaded not to be mentioned, while the severe beating was going on, Alhaja Jolaade Batola, wife of an influencial legislator, a House of Representatives member, representing Mainland federal constituency, was seen seated, inside the unregistered Toyota Camry car and giving orders to the lady on what to do to their victim.

The Nigerian Compass on Saturday, further learnt that the rampaging ladies planned to take the business woman away but for her resistance. The boot of their Camry was thrown open, while the woman in the car ordered the ladies to drag the woman and throw her into the boot.

Independent checks at the Lion Building police command however showed that the matter has been reported there even as our correspondent on Friday traced the battered business woman to the General Hospital, who was receiving treatment.

Though she was initially reluctant to speak with The Nigerian Compass on Saturday, when she opened up, she said she was standing outside her resident, talking to a tenant, when the six ladies, unknown to her, accompanied, by Mrs Batola arrived the place and began to beat her up.

She however insisted that she does not know the reason why the ladies beat the hell out of her, insisting that she was not close to the wife of the House of Representatives member. “Though Alhaja Batola owns a shop on the same Bamgbose Street, we are not really close. Though I do greet her,” said the victim. 

The woman whose body was full of scares from the beating put the cost of her medical treatment as well as some of jewelries she was wearing when she was attacked at N600,000, and confirmed that but for the residents, who mobilised and confronted the ladies, she could have been kidnapped.

Inquiries at the Lion Building police station, in Lagos Island revealed to our correspondent that the case have been filed. The woman was asked to get a police report on the incident, a police source disclosed.

Attempts made to see Alhaja Owolabi Batola for her comment on the incident proved abortive as her shop located on the same Bamgbose Street was not opened yesterday.

Source: Nigerian Compass