Student in court over threat to father’s life

Abuja – The police in Abuja on Wednesday arraigned a 20-year-old secondary school student, Benjamin Agashua, at a Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court over a threat to his father’s life.

The accused, who resides at Tunga Maji in Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of theft and criminal intimidation.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Stephen Eimoga, told the court that the matter was reported by the father, Mr Ameh Agashua, of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Karu Police Station.

Eimoga said that on April 7 the accused stole his father’s Nokia mobile phone valued at N9,500 while he was out for work.

He told the court that the accused threatened to kill his father and destroy his career when he was confronted and asked by his father to return the phone.

The prosecutor said that the complainant was the biological father of the accused and that both of them had been having series of problems since the accused moved out of his father’s house.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, are punishable under sections 286 and 397 (b) of the Penal Code.

Section 286 states that “whoever, intending to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person’s consent, moves that property in order to take it is said to commit theft.”

The law prescribes a seven-year jail term or an option of fine or both for criminal intimidation.

After the charges were read and explained to him, the accused, who is currently in detention, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor urged the court not to grant the accused bail in order for him not to interfere with police investigation into the matter before the next adjourned date.

Eimoga argued that the accused person was showing no sign of remorse and would cause more trouble for the father if granted bail.

While ruling, Senior Magistrate Aminu Abdullahi said that the alleged offences were bailable.

He, therefore, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to May 8 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

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