Alayo Sopekan, a public health physician from Kuje, Abuja, found himself arraigned at the Upper Area Court Gwagwalada on Wednesday for allegedly accusing another individual of having a clandestine affair with his wife.
The police pressed charges against Mr. Sopekan for criminal intimidation and defamation of character.
According to the prosecution counsel, Dabo Yakubu, the complaint was filed by Olaide Mukaila of Bamishi in the Kuje area council, who reported the matter to the Gwagwalada area command on February 8.
Mr. Yakubu detailed that the defendant allegedly defamed the complainant’s character in January by accusing him of burglarizing his house. Additionally, he claimed that Mr. Sopekan accused the complainant of engaging in secret affairs with his wife, Kehinde Lugo, and threatened to use his position as a director to retaliate.
The prosecutor cited violations of sections 396 and 391 of the Penal Code.
During the court proceedings, Mr. Yakubu opposed the defendant’s bail, noting a previous instance where Mr. Sopekan allegedly jumped bail at the police station.
Despite the objections, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. In response, defense counsel Linus Bassey made an oral bail application, invoking various legal provisions to support his plea for bail on favorable terms.
Citing sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Nigerian Constitution, Mr. Bassey assured the court that his client would not abscond and would diligently attend trial sessions.
Subsequently, Judge Abdullahi Abdulkarim granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with one reasonable surety. The judge stipulated that the surety must reside within the country’s jurisdiction and provide their National Identity Number (NIN).
The case was adjourned until April 29 for further hearing.