Drama as court discharges Lagos textile dealer who attempted suicide

There was a mild drama at an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after a 58-year-old textile dealer, Mrs. Taiwo Momoh, was discharged for offences bordering on attempted suicide.

Momoh stepped out of the dock, knelt down and started giving praises to God.

Immediately she got out of the court, she covered her face with two sets of clothes and hastened towards the back gate of the court.

After flinging the gates open, a resident asked if she was in purdah, which she denied and ran off with her face still covered.

One of her counsel said she wanted to avoid the harassment of journalists and people in the community.

PUNCH Metro had reported that Momoh had accumulated debts of over N18m after a bureau de change operator allegedly fled with money belonging to her Swiss creditor.

Her shop was also reportedly burgled around the time, which led to frustration and depression.

She claimed that efforts to see her pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God over her challenges did not yield fruit.

Momoh said she left her house late March and headed for the lagoon, adding that she had removed her shoes and was about to take a dive into the water when she was rescued and handed over to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad.

The police subsequently transferred the matter to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, where she was detained for three days.

The case was later charged to court.

After the first arraignment, Momoh cried out for help, saying she could not explain why she attempted suicide.