by Isi Esene

Tunji Shomade, a 35-year-old teacher who was dragged before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court on a battery charge has pleaded not guilty.

The suit against him was filed by Ann Samuel, his mother’s tenant, who said she did not do anything to them to warrant the beating she received.

Samuel said, “I didn’t offend them in any way. They just woke up that morning, came to my apartment and started beating and stripping me.”

In his defense, Shomade reportedly denied ever laying hands on Samuel saying it was his brother, Olakunle, who had an altercation with her. He said he was on his way to work on October 23 when he heard his mother shouting and he quickly intervened by restraining his mother.

“I heard Mama shouting at the top of her voice and when I got there, I saw my brother and the lady fighting. My brother told me that the lady had called my mom a witch and a mad woman. She also pushed her; I took Mama into the house and went to work. I did not touch her, it was my brother that fought with her,” Tunji Shomade said.

In a presented police statement, Olakunle had admitted being involved in the fight. The statement read in part, “She was abusing my mum. Who on earth will I accept such a thing? My brother was not party to the incident.”

The Magistrate, Osho Adebiyi, blamed the two men and warned both parties to keep the peace with each other.

She added that since Tunji had pleaded not guilty, he would be charged on bail of N100,000 and detained in Kirikiri till the adjourned date of Noember 15, 2012.