A tricycle driver, Ndubisi Amochie, who allegedly beat up a police officer and tore his uniform, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Amochie, 35, a resident of 37, Adealu St., Dopemu, Lagos, is being tried for breach of peace, conspiracy and assault.
The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb. 2 at Dopemu, Agege, Lagos.
Nwosu said that the accused, and others still at large, assaulted one Unekwu Odugbo, attached to M.T.D section, Dopemu Police Station.
“The accused unlawfully assaulted the police officer by beating him up while performing his lawful duty,’’ he said.
The prosecutor said that the accused drove his tricycle against traffic, and the complainant, who was controlling traffic, was ordered by his superior to stop him.
“The accused refused to surrender his tricycle; instead, he started making calls. Few seconds later, some men gathered, and together with the accused, beat the complainant.
“The accused and others still at large also tore the complainant’s uniform and injured him all over his body, just to prevent him from taking the tricycle to their station,” he said
According to the prosecutor, a mobile policeman later came to rescue the complainant.
He said the offences contravened Sections 166, 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 171 prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders.
The accused pleaded innocence to the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mr A. A. Akinsanya, adjourned the case till March 2 for mention. (NAN)