Man ‘slashes’ neighbour’s hand for refusing to buy him cigarette

Nigerian police

A 23-year-old man, Joachim Kikogble, appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday for allegedly cutting his neighbour with razor for failing to buy him cigarette.

Mr Kikogble, a resident of Yaba, pleaded not guilty to one-count charge leveled against him by the police.

Prosecutor Modupe Olaluwoye said the defendant attacked Solomon Mifokpo on March 11, on Oko-Agbon Street, Yaba, around 7:00 p.m. for refusing to buy him a cigarette.

“My lord, when the complainant refused to buy the cigarette, it resulted in an argument and then a fight. The defendant brought out a razor from his pocket and cut the complainant on his right hand. The complainant had to be rushed to a pharmacy to get treated,” she said.

The offence contravenes Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised), and is punishable with three years’ jail term.

The Chief Magistrate, Oluwatoyin Oghere, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She added that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s blood relation, adding that the two sureties must be gainfully employed and possess evidence of three years’ tax payment to the state government.

Oghere adjourned the case until June 26 for mention.