MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 37-year old man, Onah Steve Tochukwu, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly beating up his wife and locking her with a six days old baby inside kitchen.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oyenekan Compound, College Road, Ogba, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the wife had a disagreement with the husband over an undisclosed matter. In the process, the man grabbed her, beat her mercilessly and locked her inside the kitchen with her baby.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command at Ogba. The Police went to the house to rescue the victims, but the man refused to open the kitchen until he was forced to do so.
He was then arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the wife.
He was found culpable after interrogation and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read :
COUNT 1:-“That you, ONAH STEVE TOCHUKWU ‘M’ of No. 29B, Oyenekan Compound, College Road, Ogba, Lagos State, on 1st of August, 2025, at about 0050hrs, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did assault one Onah Deborah Chikamso ‘f’ your wife of same address, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 170 and punishable under Section 172 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, ONAH STEVE TOCHUKWU ‘M on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by denying Police officers access to your apartment to rescue your wife, one Onah Kelechi Deborah and your six days old new born baby, whom you locked both in the kitchen and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, 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, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, 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.