By Oscar Chukwugekwu

‎A 32-year-old cleaner, Matthew Ubabuike, was arraigned on Monday before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, for assaulting a vendor.

‎The police charged Ubabuike with criminal intimidation, force and assault. He, however, pleaded not guilty.

‎The prosecution counsel, Festus Ajayi, told the court that the complainant, Abubakar Adamu, reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station on July 29.

‎The prosecutor told the court that the defendant threw a stone at the complainant on July 26 when he visited his business stand to order Indomie noodles.

‎Ajayi said the defendant also slapped the complainant and threatened to kill him.

‎The police said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 397 and 265 of the Penal Code.

‎Magistrate Hafsat Amir admitted the defendant to bail of N200,000 with one surety in like sum. She said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

‎She ordered that the surety must provide all means of identification and adjourned the matter until August 12 for trial.