A 40-year-old commercial sex worker, Adeosun Adepeju, was on Tuesday brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly stabbing a fellow sex worker during a late-night dispute.
The accused, who did not provide a residential address, was arraigned on a one-count charge of assault. She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Cpl. Helen Ojo, the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on May 21 at the Ring Road area of Ibadan, a known hotspot for nightlife and commercial activities. Ojo told the court that Adepeju stabbed the complainant, Stella Mago, in the stomach with a pair of scissors during a quarrel while they were both at work.
The prosecution stated that the attack caused serious bodily harm to Mago, prompting her to seek immediate medical attention.
“The offence is contrary to Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000,” Ojo noted.
The details surrounding the cause of the altercation were not disclosed in court, but eyewitnesses said the two women had a heated argument before the situation escalated into violence.
Following her plea of not guilty, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M. M. Olagbenro, granted Adepeju bail in the sum of ₦300,000, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties, according to the court, must be responsible citizens with verifiable means of income and residence within the jurisdiction of the court.
Magistrate Olagbenro then adjourned the case to May 30 for hearing.
The incident has sparked discussions about the increasing rate of violence in informal sectors and among vulnerable groups, particularly in urban areas where law enforcement presence is limited at night.
While prostitution remains illegal and unregulated in most parts of Nigeria, cases involving violence among sex workers are not uncommon, especially in cities like Ibadan, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Legal experts have called for better engagement and community-based interventions to reduce the frequency of such incidents and offer safer conditions for women working in informal environments.
