An unemployed man, Christian Hinhinebe, was on Wednesday arraigned before the Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for threatening police officers on duty.

The police charged Mr Hinhinebe with criminal intimidation and insult to public officers.

The prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Osho, told the court that in September, under the Nyanya Bridge in Karu, the defendant threatened and insulted a police inspector and his team performing their official duty with intent to cause alarm and also force them to engage in an act, which they are not legally bound to do.

Mr Osho said the defendant also used abusive language concerning their persons, likely to cause provocation, which might cause public peace.

The offence, he said, contravened sections 397 and 399 of the Penal Code.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge, Hassan Mohammed, granted the defendant N100,000 bail, with one surety who must live within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr Mohammed ordered that a court officer and the police must verify the surety’s address and that the surety’s National ID card be kept at the court.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the defendant to write an undertaking to maintain peace, and the case was adjourned until November 3 for further hearing. 

(NAN)