Court remands man for allegedly insulting police officer

A Karu Upper Area Court in Abuja on Monday remanded a 36-year-old man, Hedges Samuel, in prison for allegedly insulting and intimidating a police officer while she was discharging her duties.

The judge, Ishaq Hassan, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison until Nov. 17 to determine bail conditions.

The defendant, who resides at Phase 2 Extension, Jikwoyi, Abuja, was arraigned for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation, refusing to answer public questions, and signing a statement.

He, however, denied committing the crime.

The prosecutor, Olarewaju Osho, told the court that Insp. Rose Ugwuanyi, a police officer attached to Jikwoyi Divisional Police Headquarters, reported the matter at the Jikwoyi police station on Nov. 1.

"The complainant alleged that she was asked by her superior officer to investigate a case of cheating reported against the defendant."

"While the complainant was performing her duty, the defendant started raining insults on her, saying she was stupid and that he had heard how everyone brought to the station feared her (officer).

"The defendant went further to threaten the officer, saying that he would deal with her, saying that as soon as he is out of the station, the officer will pay with her life."

"The defendant also told the complainant in the presence of other police officers and civilians that he will not fear the officer as everyone did, rather that the officer has met "her match," which is him," Osho told the court.

The prosecutor said that when the defendant was being interrogated concerning his utterances, he intentionally refused to make a statement.

He added that during the police investigation, the defendant was seen hitting his chest before the IPO began investigating the case.

The offense contravened Sections 397, 142, and 143 of the Penal Code.