Student arrested for beating up policeman

The police on Monday in Abuja arraigned a 22-year-old student, Ibrahim Salisu, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for beating up a policeman.

Salisu, who lives at 4, Olumo Rock, Amasco Plantation Estate, Galadimawa in Abuja, is charged with joint criminal force and assaulting a public servant.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Anigbo Paul, told the court that Cpl. Chijioke Jacob of the Lugbe Police Station had lodged a report against the accused at the station.

He said the report was lodged on Feb. 9 at about 9 p.m.

Paul told the court that, on the said day, the accused had gone to the complainant’s house as he was about to park his car and beat him up.

The prosecutor said the accused and three others now at large beat the complainant while he was dressed in uniform and started trying to take his rifle from him.

He told the court further that, during investigation, Salisu confessed to committing the offence.

Paul said Salisu’s action was in contravention of the provisions of sections 79 and 267 of the Penal Code.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused, if convicted, is liable to three years’ imprisonment or an option of paying a fine or both.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

After arraignment, the accused’s counsel, Mr Ikechukwu Nnaemeka, applied to the court for bail according to Section 341 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

The prosecutor objected and prayed the court not to grant the accused bail.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Celestine Odo, in his ruling however said the prosecutor failed to show the court how granting the accused bail would jeopardise ongoing investigation.

Odo also admonished Salisu’s counsel for failing to state the contents of the section he cited in his argument, saying “a lawyer should be prepared before coming to court’’.

He then granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000.

The magistrate also said this must be with a surety in like sum, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must be a public servant.

Odo said the surety should present his or her office identity card and appointment letter.

He then adjourned the matter to March 3 for hearing