Police arraign driver over alleged assault, wife battery

The Police in Lagos State, on Wednesday, arraigned a 46-year-old man, Friday Efebe, who allegedly beat up his wife, leaving her with a swollen face and a broken arm.

Efebe, a commercial driver whose address is unknown, was brought before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of assault, failure to provide necessaries of life for his children and breach of peace.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Prosecutor, ASP Ikem Uko, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Dec. 30, 2022, and March 24, at about 6:00 p.m. at Gbanko extension, Igbanko, Badagry, Lagos.

Uko said the defendant physically assaulted his wife by beating her mercilessly and causing her grievous harm.

“My Lord, as a result of the beating, the wife’s face got swollen up while her left hand was broken.

“When he assaulted his wife on Dec. 30, 2022, we warned him, and he promised not to touch her, but this time around, she landed in Badagry General Hospital.

“The defendant also failed in his responsibility as a father to provide necessaries of life for his three children.

“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by beating his wife in public.

“The offences contravened Sections 245, 247 and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,’’ he said.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaiya said that one of the sureties must be gainfully employed

He adjourned the case until April 24, for mention.