Drama as suspect attempts suicide in Lagos court

A suspect standing trail at an Ikeja High Court caused tension on Tuesday, Jan. 23, when he attempted suicide while leaving the courtroom.

Ayoko Oluwatobi, 25, is facing a six-count charge bordering on causing grievous bodily harm, damage to property and membership of an unlawful society.

After his counsel moved his bail application, praying the court to admit him to bail on a liberal term, the prosecution team objected to it, saying that the defendant was a flight risk.

After listening to both lawyers, Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until April 9 for ruling on the bail application.

However, the defendant left the dock, went behind the witnesses and started tapping the prosecution team members at the back, saying they were his friends and should release him.

While he was being led out of the courtroom, the defendant started headbutting the wall, shouting: “I want to die, I can’t wait till April.”

He then climbed the window of the courtroom in an attempt to jump down from the two-storey building.

It took the intervention of policemen attached to the court and a correctional service officer to stop the defendant by holding onto one of his legs.