KINGSLEY EBERE
A 40-year old Alaba International Market trader, Nwabunwanne Nnamdi Michael, has displayed his boxing skills on his wife, Chidinma Nwabunwanne (Nee Okeke), by allegedly knocking off her two teeth during a brawl in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 23rd December,2024, at No. 2 Mike Chuks Avenue, opposite Unipetrol, Satellite town area of Lagos, where they reside.
He was arrested and charged before the Apapa Magistrate Court sitting in Ajegunle, Lagos, for the alleged assault before he was granted bail and released.
The defendant, Michael, who hails from Awkuzu, got married to Chidinma from Nanka both in Anambra State, four years ago and had two children. They were said to be living peacefully before trouble started over the decision of the defendant to take their daughter abroad to be under the custody of his brother, which the wife resisted.
Accordingly, the defendant, Nnamdi Michael, allegedly arranged with his brother living in Spain, Sunday Nwabunwanne, without the consent of his wife to change the real identity of their three-year old daughter from Mitchelle Chinacherem to Chisom Sunday in order to procure travelling documents to travel abroad at such age and live with his brother, Sunday.
The defendant was said to have gone to the passport office and the Embassy to perfect the changing of the identity before the wife discovered and insisted that she doesn’t want her daughter to travel abroad until the daughter reaches the age of 18, which jolted the whole arrangement.
This caused serious problems between the defendant and the victim, which later led to exchange of hot words. In the process, Michael rained blows on her, knock off her teeth and injured her on the hand.
The matter was reported to the Police at FESTAC town Division and Michael was arrested. He was granted an administrative bail to enable him to reconcile with the complainant and make peace.
However, the defendant was not able to achieve peace and he was subsequently charged before the Court for the alleged assault.
The charge read:
“That you, Nwabunwanne Michael, on the 23/12/2024 at No. 2 Mike Chuks Avenue, opposite Unipetrol, Satellite Lagos, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Okeke Chidimma F’ of the same address by giving her fist blows on her right hand and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Adega Tyongines, did not object to him being granted bail but asked the Court to give a date for hearing since the defendant pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.R Williams, granted him bail in the sum of N300,,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center and released after he perfected his bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till 21st July, 2025, for mention when the prosecutor is expected to effect the proper charges against the defendant because the Police did not place the proper charges against the defendant.
