Encomium
Alhaja Jolade Batola, wife of 69 year old two time member of House of Representatives, Hon. Monsuru Alao Owolabi, popularly known in the political circle as Alao Seniyan has debunked the rumour that she hired thugs to beat up one Alhaja Basidat Ajadi Balogun, a relation of the popular hotelier on Lagos Island, Ajadi Lawo on Friday, May 24, 2013.
Alhaja Batola, whose husband is the lawmaker representing Lagos Island 11. Federal constituency claimed that the reports were falsified and calculated attempt to tarnish her hubby’s unblemished reputation and ruin his political antecedents.
In an exclusive chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly through her spokesperson she sent to us on Saturday, May 25, 2013, she explained her side of the story.
“The story is false and fabricated by those who are hell bent on causing unnecessary panic. It all started sometime ago when she accosted Alhaja and the honourable during an event at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. She claimed Alhaja was a husband snatcher and said so many irritating things but they kept quiet without responding to her ranting. They left the event for her. But on Friday, May 24, 2013, around 9:45 am, Alhaja was on her way to her shop alongside her sister and a friend from London when she waylaid them with some hooligans. They started pelting us with stones but Alhaji told us to make a detour and come back home. The next thing we saw few hours after was online reports and in some media that we were fingered in the torture, beating and alleged attempt to kidnap her at Isale Eko area of Lagos.
We also spoke with Hon. Monsuru Owolabi who confirmed that there is no iota of truth in the allegation. “It is not true. There is no problem at all”.
It was reported that wife of a serving House of Representatives member was fingered on the torture, beating and alleged attempt to kidnap one Alhaja Basidat Ajadi Balogun in Isale Eko area of Lagos.
It was alleged that a Toyota Camry 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 car and advanced towards No 101, Bamgbose Street.
The unmasked ladies allegedly met her and repeatedly flogged her as she wept. 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. She claimed she was standing outside her residence, 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 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 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 jewelry she was wearing when she was attacked at N600,000. She said that but for the residents, who confronted the ladies, she could have been kidnapped.
THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN ENCOMIUM WEEKLY ON TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013
