A 38-year-old woman, Blessing Igwe, has been arraigned before a Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja for allegedly battering her disabled husband all the time. The woman, who was brought to court on Wednesday was also alleged to have resisted arrest.
Igwe, who reside at CBN Estate at Apo in Abuja, is facing a three-count charge of assault, criminal intimidation and resisting lawful arrest.
The Prosecutor, Mr. Fidelix Ogbobe, said that the complainant, one Robinson Igwe of Choos Estate, Apo reported the matter at the Apo Police Station on Aug. 2. Ogbobe alleged that the defendant was always taking advantage of her husband's physical challenge to assault him all the time.
"The defendant always takes advantage of her husband's disability to assault him. The complainant is a physically challenged person, who uses crutches to walk.
"He has been admitted in hospital because of a head injury as a result of assault and battery from his wife.
"Despite police intervention the accused had repeatedly beaten her husband at the slighted provocation.''
The prosecutor said that the complainant had petitioned the commissioner of police in Abuja on the matter. He said further the defendant had also absconded with two children produced by the union for over a year to an unknown destination.
The defendant only reappeared on Aug. 1, after more than a year since she left her matrimonial home and sent the complainant out of his house for days.
"But when the complainant reported the matter to the police, the defendant resisted arrest on three different occasions until she was finally arrested on the fourth attempt by the police,'' Ogbobe said.
He also alleged that the defendant had also threatened to kill the complainant. According to him, the offences contravene Sections 265, 397 and 172 of the Penal Code. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20, 000 with one surety in like sum. garko adjourned the case until Oct.17.
-NAN
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