A 42-year-old footwear seller, Basil Oyaire, on Tuesday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for allegedly punching his drunken friend who played a prank on him.
The police charged Oyaire, whose lives on No.19 Akeredolu Street, Lambe in Ogun State, is charged with assault.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Michael Unah, told the court that the defendant during a disagreement allegedly punched his friend, Mr Rasheed Sanni in his right eye and thereby causing him grievous harm.
Unah said the defendant committed the offence on February 24 about 12.40 a.m. at the African Shrine, Agidingbi in Ikeja.
He said the defendant allegedly punched the complainant in the face after he, acting under the influence of alcohol, locked up his clothes.
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Out of anger, he said, the defendant gave him a punch in his right eye.
He said that the complainant was partially blind for some days before he was transferred to Ikeja General Hospital to undergo eye surgery,.
The offence. he said, contravened the provisions of Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, (Revised).
NAN reports that assault attracts three years jail term if found convicted.
Chief Magistrate A.A. Fashola, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Fashola ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The magistrate adjourned the case until April 16 for hearing. (NAN)
