NAN – Two men, who allegedly assaulted another duo and stole items valued at N129,000 from them, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused: Abiodun Fagbayi, 25, and Paul Ukatu, 26; both residents of No. 10, Adeyemi St., Agege, Ikeja, Lagos, are facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, breach of peace, assault and grievous harm.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Samuel Ishola, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 27, at No. 18, Ayige St., Orile Agege, Lagos.
Ishola said that the accused assaulted the complainants – one Gbeleyi Abayomi and one Owolabi Nurudeen – and stole a laptop and two cell phones from them.
He said that the value of the stolen items was N129,000.
“The complainants said they were in their compound receiving fresh air and watching a film on Abayomi’s laptop when the accused stormed their compound with a broken bottle.
“Fagbayi, who was holding the broken bottle, assaulted Abayomi with it by stabbing him on the right eye when he refused to drop his laptop.
“Ukatu, the second accused, also assaulted Nurudeen by dragging him on the ground,” Ishola said.
The prosecutor said that Nurudeen sustained a minor injury on the leg while Abayomi, who was stabbed in the eye, could no longer see with it.
“Neighbours who witnessed the crime immediately called the police and the accused persons were arrested,” Ishola said.
Ukatu pleaded guilty to the count of assault, but denied committing the offences in the other counts.
Fagbayi on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 166,171, 243,285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing while Section 409 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
Section 243 prescribes seven-year jail term for a person convicted of grievous harm.
The Senior Magistrate, Mrs A.R. Onilogbo, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case till April 25 for mention.
