By Wasiu Owolewa, Ado-Ekiti
Barr. Tope Salami, a lawyer to the Igbo Trader, Mr Charles Nwankwo who was alleged of assaulting a co-shop owner, Mrs Adeola Adeniran has defended his client, claiming that the story earlier told by another trader Mr. Lamidi Ishola who claimed he was an eyes witness was not true.
The lawyer said contrary to Mr Ishola’s claim, he argued that it was Charles the Igbo trader and his brother, Donnatus Collins that were attacked and seriously wounded, adding that the duo of Charles and his brother Collins are currently hospitalized in Ado Ekiti right now.
After the viral publication of the story on one Mr Nwankwo Charles who was alleged of assaulting a Yoruba woman, Mrs Adeola, heritagenewsng.com had made spirited efforts to interview the Igbo trader who is currently bedridden to hear his own side of the story but unable to speak to us due to his condition.
Recall that Mr Ishola had earlier alleged that Mr Nwankwo was the one troubling Mrs Adeola by displaying his goods at the front of the woman’s shop despite order given by the police to refrain from such act.
In the report published by this news platform he said, “This man has a shop at part of my shop which is far, he has continued to put his goods in front of the woman’s shop. This has led to arguments times without number.
“This morning, he repeated it and beat her mercilessly such that she is bed ridden”
But following his critical condition, Mr. Charles referred us to his counsel, Tope Salami Esq. who gave a vivid account of what transpired between his client and the alleged assaulted woman.
The counsel in an interview with our correspondent absolved his client, Mr Nwankwo Charles of any act of assault.
“Mr Charles Nwankwo is a shop owner at Eyeloro Plaza, Ereguru Street, Ado-Ekiti where Mrs Adeola Adeniran also has a shop.
“The problem at the plaza started about 4 years ago when Adeola and other tenants ganged up against Mr Charles on the ground that the particular place he (Charles) rented as a shop was designed as toilet for the whole plaza. They went as far as convincing the landlord, Chief Anisulowo to eject him at Rent Tribunal, Ado-Ekiti.
“So on weekly basis they cooked cases for him at various police stations to make him look as if I am a trouble maker. Please ask her if she is into the line of business with Mr. Charles Nwankwo? She is not. So what do you think should cause any issue between them?
Barr. Tope stated further that the woman alleged to have been assaulted had devised several means to make things uncomfortable for Mr Nwankwo.
“For over one year Adeola brought two different traders selling okirika to block the only access road to the shop of Mr Nwankwo. It took the order of court to eject the two traders from that spot. Police stations and the courts are inundated with various cases cooked up against Mr. Charles Nwankwo. I believe their sole aim is to eliminate him”
Exonerating his client of any act of assault by Mrs Adeola, he explained that, “On the said date, it was Mr. Adetifa, the step father of Adeola Adeniran who caused the whole issues. He came with nine street boys known as Aye secret cult members to attack Mr Charles Nwankwo right inside his shop. She was with them.
“In the process of attacking Mr Charles, one of the Aye secret cult members who happened to be a son to Princess Adenike mistakenly punched Adeola Adeniran in her nose. That was how Adeola Adeniran got the injury. It was not from me.
“They were the ones who came to meet Mr CharlesNwankwo. Mr Charles was rushed to Police Cottage Hospital for treatment as a result of the attack on him.
“His brother, Donatus Collins was attacked as well and was treated at the emergency unit of Ekiti State Teaching Hospital while his two sisters are still currently detained by Civil Defence at Oja Oba for what they knew nothing about”
He added that all efforts by the police to arrest Mr. Adetifa and the boys that was brought to attack the igbo trader failed and they were still at large.
Charles hospitalized.