A 38-year-old trader, Adeniran Akinbote, was, on Thursday, arraigned before the Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo for hitting his colleague with a sledgehammer.

The defendant, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge bordering on breach of peace and assault.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on October 30, 2023, around 2:00 p.m. at Albert filling station, Okitipupa in Okitipupa Magisterial District.

Mr Orogbemi said the defendant used a sledgehammer to hit the head of Femi Onayiga over an undisclosed argument and misunderstanding between them.

He said the defendant also inflicted injuries on the complainant with a knife cutting deep into his right hand, thus causing him bodily harm.

According to him, the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 351 and 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Law of Ondo State, 2006.

The chief magistrate, Cletus Ojuola, granted the defendant bail of N200,000, with one surety in like sum.

Mr Ojuola said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the government.

He adjourned the case until March 5 for further hearing.

(NAN)