Two men and two women were brought before the Zuba Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Tuesday, accused of disrupting public peace and engaging in mutual intimidation.
The defendants, identified as Charis Mbosi (54), Angela Mbosi (38), Chukwuma Eze (44), and Ifeoma Eze (32), were charged by the police with criminal conspiracy and disturbing the peace.
During the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Mayowa Adefioye, informed the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on February 24 in Tungamaji village, Abuja.
Mr Adefioye said Mr Mbosi’s family reported a case of criminal intimidation through a direct criminal complaint to Zuba Magistrates on the same date.
He said the court referred the matter to Zuba police for proper investigation.
During the police investigation, it was discovered that the complainant and defendants were threatening and intimidating each other.
Mr Adefioye said the defendants were disturbing the public peace of the people in Tungamaji village by insulting themselves, threatening and intimidating each other.
He said the police asked the defendants to undertake a bond to maintain peace, but they refused and continued insulting each other.
Mr Adefioye said the offence contravened sections 97 and 114 of the Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge level against them.
The chief magistrate, Abdulaziz Mohammed, granted the defendants bail of N100,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
Mr Mohammed ordered that the sureties reside within the court’s jurisdiction and that their business places and houses be verified.
He ordered the defendants to maintain peace until the case was determined.
The magistrate adjourned the case until June 4 for a hearing.