Monday 25 January 2016

Edo court convicts man for assaulting neighbour


An Oredo Magistrate’s Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Okoro Onuwa, to seven months imprisonment for assaulting his neighbour and inflicting an injury on her forehead.

Okoro was on July 7, 2014 arraigned by the Edo State Police Command on a two counts of assault.

The police prosecutor, Thomas Ojo, who identified the victim as one Odigie Stella-Maris, had said that the offence was committed on June 27, 2013.

It was learnt that during a scuffle between his mother and victim, Okoro punched her (Odigie) several times in the head.

The prosecutor had said that the action of the accused left his‎ victim with an injury on the forehead and close to her right eye.

Ojo had explained that the offence committed by Onuwa, who was also said to have destroyed the victim’s property, contravened Sections 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.

The charge had read, “That you, OkoroOnuwa, on June 27, 2013, at 58, Old Western Road, off M. M. Way, Benin City, in Oredo Magisterial District, did maliciously assault one Odigie Stella-Maris of the same address on her forehead, which caused her harm close to her right eye and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.”

The case had also been adjourned to July 31, 2014, for cross examination, after the accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. J. O. Ejale, in her judgement, found him guilty in the first count and sentenced him to six imprisonment or an option of fine of N10,000.

Ejale also sentenced him to one month imprisonment in count two or an option of fine of N5,000, in the alternative.

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