Sixty-seven-year-old fish farmer, Jeremiah Obrifor, has been remanded in prison custody for chopping off the right hand of an 11-year-old boy, Goodluck Amaechi.
His remand was ordered on Friday, by Mrs A.O. Komolafe of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Obrifor, who resides in the Okokomaiko area of the state, allegedly cut off young Goodluck’s hand right with a machete on June 7, claiming that the lad was attempting to steal from his fish pond.
The fish farmer was arrested after the incident was report to the police.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, who brought Obrifor before the court on four counts bordering on attempted murder, grievous harm and unlawful assault, said the defendant committed the offences, around 8.40pm, at 14, Issa Ibrahim Street, Okokomaiko on the said day.
He said the offences contravened sections 173, 230, 245 and 246 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.
Chief Magistrate, Komolafe, granted him to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and must be blood relations of the defendant. They should also show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Meanwhile, she ordered that Obrifor should be kept behind bars until he perfected his bail conditions and adjourned further hearing to July 31, 2019.
