The Magistrate’s court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos on Monday berated the Nigerian Police for improper handling of a case of threat to life and breach of peace leveled against a 38-year-old man, Johnson Emmanuel.
Emmanuel, was arrested on August 14, 2015, and taken to court by officers of the Owode Onirin Police Division, following an allegation of threat to life made against him by his neighbour, Taiwo Adigun.
Emmanuel’s neighbour, Adigun, accused him of threatening her with a substance suspected to be acid and he was charged by the police for committing an offence punishable under Section 56 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
The second charge was that he conducted himself ‘in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by going with a bucket containing substance suspected to be acid, to bath Adigun.’ The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 116 (d) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State.
Both the complainant and defendant were residents of number 1, Nathaniel Osagie Street, Irawo Bus Stop, Owode-Ajegunle.
After pleading not guilty, Emmanuel was remanded in custody at Kirikiri Prison, Ikoyi, pending the perfection of the bail granted him by the court.
However, at Monday’s ruling, Mr. W. B. Balogun upheld the defendant’s counsel’s submission of no case to answer and held that the prosecution had tendered ‘no evidence to prove the offences’.
The court further held that the Investigative Police Officer ‘had not done a proper investigation of the case’ and that the charges of threat to life and breach of peace were all unproven.
Mr. Watson, who was standing in for Mrs. Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, added that when people live in close proximity to each other in the same building, there are bound to be conflicts.
He criticized the police for not exploring ways to settle the matter before bringing it to court.
The two-count charge was struck out and the defendant was discharged.
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