A 61-year-old lecturer, Chinyere Agatuekwe, has been arraigned before the Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court in FCT for allegedly intimidating her tenant.
The police charged Ms Agatuekwe, who lives in Aco estate, Abuja, with criminal conspiracy, intimidation and assault.
The prosecutor, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that Agba Nwabueze, of Lugbe, Abuja, reported the matter to the area command office on March 26.
Mr Tanko said that on December 23, 2023, the defendant sent a group of young men to the complainant’s apartment to throw him and his belongings out of the house.
He said the men, acting under the defendant’s instruction, forcefully entered the complainant’s apartment and moved his property outside while his rent had not expired.
Mr Tanko said they also destroyed and stole some of the complainant’s property. He further stated that during the police investigation, the defendant admitted to instructing the boys, now at large, to carry out the act.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened sections 96, 396 and 326 of the Penal Code.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
In an oral bail application, the defence counsel, Rakiyat Abba, prayed the court to admit her client to bail in the most liberal terms.
Ms Abba cited section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and sections 158, 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to back her plea.
The magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, admitted the defendant to bail of N1 million, with one surety in like sum.
Mr Oladunmoye said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide means of identification.
He, after that, adjourned the case until July 5 for a hearing.
(NAN)