Court discharges and acquits a 34-year-old woman charged with grievous harm

By Moronke Boboye

Discharge

Ikeja, March 17,2020(NAN) An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday discharged and acquitted a 34- year-old woman, Nkechi Okori , who was charged with grievous harm on her neighbour.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs S. K Matepo, found the defendant innocent of the crime she was charged with.

Matepo said that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and discharged and acquitted the defendant.

Matepo also ruled that the complainant should pay N20, 000 to the defendant to compensate her.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was arraigned on Sept. 8, 2016 on a one -count charge of grievous harm, but she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

NAN also reports that the defendant was then granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum and thereafter, trials began.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the offence was committed on Aug. 23, 2016 at Block 24, Flat 5, Ilasan Housing Estate, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos.

Odugbo alleged that a fight ensued between the defendant, Nkechi and the complainant, Ufuoma Odeji, over non-payment of electricity bills.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant used an iron to hit the complainant on her forehead which caused her grievous harm.

The offence according to the prosecutor contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.   (NAN)
MTO/JNEO/TA

Edited by Josephine Obute/Tajudeen Atitebi