Building consultant in court for allegedly assaulting businesswoman

A 50-year-old building consultant, Nelson Ogbemudia, who allegedly assaulted a businesswoman, on Tuesday appeared in a Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja.

The police charged Ogbemudia, who resides in Dawaki, Abuja, with three counts of  causing hurt by dangerous means, assault and mischief.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, Kufreabasi Ebong told the court that the complainant, Mrs Virgilia James, of Sokale Duste-Alhaji, Abuja, reported the matter at the Dawaki Divisional Police Headquarters, Abuja, on Jan.23.

Ebong alleged that, at about 8.30a.m. the complainant visited the defendant’s building site at no. 12, Dr Nelson Ogbemudia street, off Citizen Avenue Dawaki, Abuja, demanding for a balance payment for a job she fully executed for the defendant.

According to the Counsel, the defendant began to yell at the complainant and threatened to deal with her if she does not leave the site.

Ebong told the court that, the defendant picked an iron rod on the ground and hit the complainant.

He said that the complainant suffered a deep cut and injuries on her head and body.

He added that Ogbemudia, further destroyed the complainant’s washing machine worth N120,000.

The police said that the monitoring and mentoring unit of the FCT Command, Abuja, conducted an investigation into the matter and the defendant admitted that he committed the offence.

Ebong said the instrument which Ogbemudia used to perpetrate the act, was recovered from him.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 248, 265 and 237 of the Penal Code Law.

Magistrate Abdulmajid Oniyangi admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2million and two sureties in like sum.

Oniyangi, ordered that the sureties must be reasonable and should reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He ordered the sureties to present a passport photograph, employment letter, if they work in any organization or business license with the Corporate Affairs Commission as well as means of identification to be verified by the court registrar.

The magistrate, adjourned the case until March 31, for hearing.