by ‘Jola Sotubo
A clergyman in Lagos has been arrested and arraigned after reports that he damaged his neighbour’s car.
44-year-old Daniel Okogie who resides in the Oshodi area of the state is said to have broken his neighbour’s windscreen after an argument over parking space.
He was charged with breaching the peace and unlawful damage before a Magistrate court in Oshodi.
Vanguard reports:
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 19 at his residence. He said that the accused maliciously damaged a Mercedes Benz car with registration number HZ 821 EKY, property of one Mr Vincent Okeke, his neighbour.
According to the prosecutor, the accused damaged the windshield of the car because his neighbour, who is the complainant, parked in the compound. Olatunde said that the accused, who claimed to be the caretaker of the house, had told the complainant not to park his car in the compound.
He said the accused told the complainant to park his car outside the gate and that only his (accused) car would be in the compound. The prosecutor alleged that the accused threatened the complainant that anytime he saw his car in the compound again, he would damage it.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant did not comply with the instruction of the accused and parked his car in the compound. He told the court that the accused woke up one morning and broke the windshield of the car.
Olatunde said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 166 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 348 prescribes a two-year jail term as penalty for an offender. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two counts of the charge.Following the plea, the Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum. Fashola adjourned the case till May 15, for mention.
