A 40-year-old driver, Ikechukwu Offor, who allegedly beat up a co-tenant for not opening the house gate and damaged his eyes, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
A resident of Lagos Street, Agege, Lagos, Offor is being tried for breach of peace and assault.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on Feb. 23 at a tenement building.
He said the accused assaulted a co-tenant, Mr Idowu Onajobi, by beating him and causing damage to both eyes.
Okuoimose said following an agreement by tenants, the complainant was nominated to lock the gate at 11.00 p.m. and keep the key.
“The complainant was nominated by his co-tenants to be locking their gate at 11.00 p.m. as a result of wave of robbery in the area.
“The accused, who came home late after the gate was locked, started knocking the gate loudly, threatening to destroy it if the gate was not opened for him.
“When the complainant finally opened the gate, the accused descended on him for the delay.
“He punched him several times in the eyes and damaged the eyes,” he said.
He said the complainant was still in the hospital receiving treatment as he could not see clearly.
The offences contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 prescribes three years imprisonment for assault.
The Magistrate, Mrs Y. O. Ekogbule, adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.