The police have arraigned a Mararaba-based business woman, Chinelo Uzoma, before a Grade 1 Area Court, in Mararaba, for allegedly referring to one Miss Doris Aneke, as a commercial sex-worker.
The prosecutor, Mr. Friday Adaji, while presenting the charge before the court, said the accused intimidated and defamed the plaintiff’s character by referring to her as a “prostitute’’.
Adaji said the case was reported on March 18 at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba by the plaintiff.
Adaji said the alleged assault was committed against the complainant while in a company of one Ibere Festus.
The prosecutor alleged that the accused person accosted the plaintiff in a fierce manner on the street and also publicly challenged her for harbouring a 24-year old man as her boyfriend.
“It is in the complainant’s statement that the accused also threatened to pour her acid,’’ Adaji said.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 397, 392 and 399 of the Penal code respectively.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sections of the code protect law abiding persons from public harassment and threat of any kind.
The accused person therefore risks being sentenced to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Adaji told the court that the accused was not a first offender, as according to him, she was once arrested on March 3 for similar allegations from the same person (Aneke).
“My Lord, that matter was settled by the police when she pleaded with Doris for forgiveness and promised never to repeat such act again,’’ he said.
However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying the allegation was unfounded.
Counsel to the accused person, Mr. Richard Mbu, said the plaintiff gave a totally different narration of what transpired on that faithful day.
NAN reports that the President of the court, Mr. Albert Maga, granted the accused bail for N100,000 and a surety following a bail application by the defendant.
Maga ordered that the surety must be a reasonable person and possess a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned to March 27 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)
