Six docked over alleged assault, threat to life

Six men were on Monday in Lagos brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, charged with beating and threatening to kill a man.

The defendants are Alex Legbatti, 34; Joseph Momodu, 36; Samuel David, 24; Olawale Hammed, 31; Jimoh Shewu, 40, and Jamiu Saliu, 28.

They, however, pleaded innocent of the charges of conspiracy, breach of peace, assault, and a threat to life.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi, the defendants and some others still at large committed the offences on Jan. 22 at Ogba, Lagos.

He said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by assaulting one Mr Bashiru Abubakar over an unlawful bank transaction.

“The defendants dragged the complainant on the floor, hit him severally with some dangerous weapons but he was rescued by some neighbours,” he said.

Ajayi said that the defendants also threatened to abduct and kill the complainant.

“They threatened to damage his car, abduct and terminate his life,” the prosecutor alleged.

Ajayi noted that the offences violated Sections 56, 168, 173 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 56 provides for one-year imprisonment for the threat to life while Section 173 prescribes three years in jail for assault.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Fagbohun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each.

Fagbohun said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Hearing in the case continues on March 16.