BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A 32-year-old nursing mother, Ann Akpa, has been arraigned by the Police in Ebonyi State for allegedly assaulting a magistrate by flogging her.
Before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital, Akpan was accused of flogging one Magistrate Lilian Igwesi with stick on August 28, 2023, at Number 32, Hilltop Road, Abakaliki.
The defendant, docked on September 4, 2023, in a two-count charge suit marked “MAB/630c/2023”, was also accused of causing a breach of peace by pouring dirt inside the magistrate’s apartment.
The Police prosecutor, Chinagorom Eze, held that the accused person committed offences punishable under Sections 335 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
However, the accused woman, who was said to be breastfeeding her baby before she was apprehended by the Police after Igwesi’s complaints, pleaded not guilty to the two allegations of assault and causing breach of peace slammed against her.
Applying for her bail, the defence counsel, A. J. Uguru, prayed the court to make the bail conditions liberal, assuring that the defendant had credible people to stand as her sureties.
Magistrate Lynda Ogodo reserved consideration of the bail application and ordered that Akpa be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abakaliki.
She adjourned the matter till September 27 for bail consideration.
The charge read, “That you Akpa Ann, aged 32, on the 28th day of August, 2023 at No 32 Hilltop Road,Abakaliki, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully assault one Mrs Igwesi Lilian by flogging her with stick at her left hand side, which caused her harm, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 335 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
“That you Ann Akpa, on same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by pouring dirt inside one Mrs Igwesi Lilian’s flat and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249(D) of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
