From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The police authorities have charged one Isreal Emmanuel before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court where he was arraigned on offences of criminal trespass and mischief contrary to sections 348 and 327 of the Penal Code Law.
According to the First Information Report, FIR, the suspect who was arraigned before Magistrate Olumide Bamisile sitting in Wuse, Zone 2, Abuja, committed the alleged offence on July 29, 2021.
The prosecution police officer had informed the court that the suspect has already confessed to the alleged offence without justifiable reason.
The FIR dated June 17, 2022, reads: That on 29th July 2021, at about 1700hrs, one Bitrus Peter Bilal, a retired Group Captain, resident in Abuja, came to the police station and reported against you, Israel Emmanuel of same address.
“That on the same date at 1400hrs, that you without his consent, went to where he fixed cloths lines and unlawfully cut and damaged the lines.
In the course of police investigations, you admitted to having done so and could not give justifiable reasons for your actions. You thereby committed the above-stated offence.
He was arraigned on June 17, 2022, for the alleged offence.
Although the trial was initially adjourned to July 8, it has further been shifted to July 25 following the absence of the Magistrate on the last adjourned date.
It is interesting to note that the suspect has before another court, filed a direct criminal complaint case number: CR/16/2022, against the complainant alleging a threat to his life.
He averred that Bilal, who also resides in the same estate, had continued to intimidate and harass him over allegations that he committed criminal trespass against him.
But Bilal has however asked the Magistrate court to strike out the case as the same is rooted in falsehood.
Specifically, he told the court that the complaint was lodged against him in order to divert attention from his alleged acts of criminality.
