Police arraign lawyer, pastor, two others for fighting in public

The police on Monday arraigned four men in a Senior Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, for fighting in public and disturbing public peace.
The accused persons are a lawyer, Stephen Otokhine; a businesswoman, Banke Otokine; a pastor, Agustine Apuna; and Ngozi Aguma, a trader.
The prosecutor, Inspector Jeremiah Elijah, told the court that on March 31 at about 4pm, the accused persons, who were neighbours, engaged in a fight within the neighbourhood.
According to Elijah, their action caused disturbance in the area until the police came to the scene and arrested them.
He said that the offence contravened Section 113 of the Penal Code.
If found guilty, they are liable to one year in prison each or with a a fine of N600 each or both.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The counsel to the accused persons, Mike Omosegbon, applied for their bail under Section 36(5) of the Penal Code, which presumes an accused innocent until proven otherwise.
Omosegbon said that the accused persons were responsible, married and family people who lived within the court’s jurisdiction and would not jump bail if obliged.
Omosegbon told the court that they would also not jeopardise police investigation on the matter.
The Judge, Binta Dogonyaro, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000 with one reliable surety each, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
Dogonyaro said that the surety should be a land owner or a tenant with at least six months rents left on the apartment.
“The sureties must swear to an affidavit to make sure the accused persons are present in court for their trial,” Dogonyaro said.
Dogonyaro adjourned the case until May 5 for hearing.