Police arraign landlord’s ex-wife for attacking tenant

Police in Lagos have preferred two counts of assault against a 48-year-old woman, Mrs. Okah Lanre, for stabbing a tenant of her ex-husband.

Lanre, who was arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, reportedly committed the offence at about 10pm on February 6, 2015.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Lanre had gone to the ex-husband’s house on Amore Street, Olodi Apapa, to look for her son, one Victor. Victor was said to have been missing on the fateful day.

While searching through the compound, she was said to have shone the torch she was holding on the tenant, Mrs. Chinyere Onyekwere, who was reportedly sleeping on a mat outside.

Our correspondent learnt that an argument ensued after Onyekwere complained about the act.

Lanre reportedly went for a cutlass on the premises and hacked her in the jaw region.

The victim’s cry was said to have drawn the attention of her neighbours, who rushed her to a hospital.

It was learnt that the suspect was arrested after the incident was reported to the Tolu Police Station.

Prior to the incident, our correspondent gathered that Lanre had been tough on the tenants in the compound, which partly led to a divorce between her and the landlord.

A prosecutor, Olusoji Ojaokomo, arraigned her on Monday before the magistrate, P.A. Adekomaya, on two counts bordering on assault and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

The charges read, “That you, Okah Lanre, 48, on February 6, 2015, at about 10.10pm, on Amore Street ,Olodi Apapa, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by entering into the compound of one Chinyere Onyekwere and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 166 (I) (D) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, Okah Lanre, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did unlawfully assault one Chinyere Onyekwere with a cutlass which caused her harm on her lower jaw and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Adekomaya granted her bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till March 23, 2015 for mention.