Ugo Madugba, a businessman and History graduate from the University of Lagos, who was arrested for marrying his fiancee without her parents consent has been released from his jail cell unconditionally.
The release was effected by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni.
The parents of the bride, Nono Madugba, had the young man arrested by culpable men of the Nigerian Police Force, Dolphin Estate division.
Nono took to her Facebook page to spill the beans on the unlawful development perpetrated by the apparatus meant to uphold the law.
She posted:
“The Nigerian Police in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi just arrested an innocent 30-year-old man called Ugo Madugba for an offence of marriage. Marriage has become a crime in Nigeria according to Dolphin police station in Ikoyi. Mr. Ugo got married to Dr. Nono a 28-year-old medical Doctor.
“Her father has been very distraught about it and has used the police to threaten the young couple to the extent of arresting all those who acted as witnesses to the marriage who are now in custody.
“He has been denied access to his family and friends and information reaching us has it that his lawyer was also denied access to him. There is a belief that a plan to poison ugo is being hatched. Please, forward this message to as many people as possible lets save Ugo’s life.”
A social media campaign led by several of Ugo’s colleagues including a Punch Newspaper editor, Eniola Akinkuotu, brought the development quickly to the attention of senior law enforcement officials, leading to the release of the detained young man much to the delight of his new bride.
African customs give the parents the honour of being integral in the decision making process that births the marriage between the spouse and their ward, however it is a part of our culture that is increasing fading as our society becomes more westernized.
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