A 28-year-old driver, John Maxwell, who allegedly beat up a traffic officer and tore his uniform, was on Wednesday hauled up before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused was arraigned on a charge of assault and damage.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase said that the accused committed the offenses on Dec. 6, at Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos.
He said that the accused assaulted a senior traffic warden attached to Pen Cinema Police Station, Benjamin Ogbar, by beating him up while performing his lawful duty.
According to him, the accused dealt blows on the complainant, injuring his mouth and nose.
“The complainant was controlling traffic when the accused’s vehicle suddenly stopped.
“The accused, who claimed that his vehicle ran out of fuel, came down, left it on the road, and was walking away.
“The complainant called him to move his vehicle out of the road, as it had already caused obstruction.
“The accused refused to comply; instead, he started punching the complainant, which caused injuries to his mouth and nose.
“In the process, the complainant lost his phone and wristwatch valued N35,000 and N15,000 respectively,” he said.
The prosecutor said that the accused also damaged the complainant’s uniform valued N25,000.
The offenses contravene Sections 174 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for serious assault.
Maxwell, who resides in Ogba, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate, Mr. J.A. Adigun, said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the case until January 3, for mention.
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