KINGSLEY EBERE
A 30-year old lady, Joy Okonkwo, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly hiring thugs to attack a hotel owner, Andrew Arikhan, over space in front of his hotel.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 25th July, 2023, around 6pm at Ajala Bus Stop, Ijaiye, Ojokoro area of Lagos State, where the hotel is located.
She has been arraigned before Ogba Magistrate Court for allegedly instigating area boys to attack and beat up the victim, Arikhan, for sending her away from the front of the hotel, where he gave her space to do her business.
According to the Police, the owner of the hotel, Andrew Arikhan, gave the lady space in front of his hotel to do her business but over time, he claimed that she turned “a bad girl” and resorted to verbal attacks on the complainant.
The complainant then asked her to leave the place, which did not go down well with her. She then engaged some area boys to deal with the hotel owner and they beat him mercilessly.
The matter was reported to the Police and the lady was arrested. She was subsequently charged before the Court after all efforts to resolve the matter proved abortive.
The Police prosecutor, Inspector Kokoye Olusegun, told the Court that the lady committed the offence, which contravened Section 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, she pleaded not guilty on the one count charge of conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
The prosecutor then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. S. I. Obasa, granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and address verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 25th August, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.