A self-acclaimed prophet of God, Kingsley Kanayo of New Nyanya in Nasarawa State, on Thursday dragged a co-tenant, Ebere Favour, to court intimidation and character defamation.
Kanayo, in a suit at the Upper Area Court, Mararaba, in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, also alleged that Favour had refused to pay N1, 000 security levy.
When the matter came up for mention on Thursday, Kanayo narrated how the accused called him names and treated him with disdain.
He told the court that he was assigned to collect contributions from all tenants in the compound for the provision of security.
“I walked up to the accused and politely requested her to pay her own part of the security contributions for the compound.
“Instead of explaining to me why she would not pay, she poured out her venom by way of insults. She called me a thief and an idle man seeking to feed on the sweat of others.
“I simply walked away from her presence. After an interval of about 30 minutes, she came to my flat, saying her madam wanted to talk to me on phone.
“On the phone, the said madam promised to pay through the accused. After some days, I met the accused on the matter and she called me a jobless man, bastard and that she will terminate my life.
“I am now being mocked by tenants and neighbours each time I pass by and I am increasingly becoming ashamed even to enter my premises.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alleged offences contravened Sections 391, 393 and 397 of the Penal Code.
Favour, an applicant, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Jude Okafor, applied for bail of the accused person, citing Sections 340 and 341 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Okafor said the accused was known to the complainant, adding that there was no likelihood that she would evade the court.
“This is because of the health status of the accused, which in a short time would be undergoing surgery.
“However, it is the discretion of the court to grant the accused bail,” Okafor submitted.
Meanwhile, counsel to the complainant, Mr Agbo Francis, said though the offence was bailable and at the discretion of the court, there should be an undertaking.
The Judge, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the court had no worries about obtaining an undertaking, maintaining that section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended had taken care of it.
Shekarau granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one reliable surety in like sum.
He said that the surety must provide two recent passport photographs to the court.
The judge warned the accused of jumping bail and indulging in acts that would jeopardise the case.
“Failure to adhere to these pieces of advice would lead to revocation of the bail and issuance of arrest warrant against the accused,” he said.
Shekarau adjourned the case until April 20 for hearing.
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