Man, 43, Docked For Attacking Labourer With Cutlass Over N6,000 Workmanship

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A labourer, Ibe Chima, is lying critically ill at an undisclosed hospital after he was brutally attacked with a cutlass and he sustained injury for demanding payment of N6,000  workmanship from his employer in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the employer,  Edwin Egwuatu, allegedly descended on him and inflicted injury with the cutlass and the victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment due to injury he sustained in the process.

The incident happened on 8th July, 2025, at Samband forest, Trade Fair complex, Lagos.

The alleged assault was reported to the Police at Trade Fair Complex. The suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the victim.

According to the Police, the suspect engaged the victim to work in his Block Industry and after rendering the service, he asked the suspect to pay him the money. They had a disagreement which led to exchange of words. And in the process, the suspect brought a cutlass and used it to inflict injury on the victim’s body and also damaged his Samsung phone worth N750,000.

The Police found the suspect culpable after thorough interrogation and charged him before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read :

“That you, EDWIN EGWUATU M’ on 08/07/2025 at about 1830hrs, at Samband forest, Trade Fair complex, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial district, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by refusing to pay one Ibe Chima ‘m’ the sum of N6,000 (Six thousand Naira) only, his workmanship for the service he rendered in your block industry and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168(d), and punishable under sub-section 2, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

COUNT 11: That you, EDWIN EGWUATU M’, and one other now at large did unlawful assault one Ibe Chima ‘m’ by using cutlass to cut and inflict bruises on his body and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

COUNT III: “That you, EDWIN EGWUATU M’, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully and willfully damage Samsung Galaxy Fold “7” phone valued N750,000 (Seven hundred and Fifty thousand Naira only, property of One Ibe Chima ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under Section 350, of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Uche Simeon, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J Layeni, granted him bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.