Three hotel staff members, Tunde Fakoya, Emmanuel Comede and Joseph Cho, on Thursday, were arraigned before Abuja Kado Grade I Area Court for allegedly applying criminal force and hurting their guest, Kosoko Aderonke, in a grievous manner.
The defendants from Plot 419, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Jabi, Abuja, who were charged by the police, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the court sitting, the prosecution counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, informed the court that on March 30 around 2pm, the complainant reported the matter at the Life Camp police station.
Nwafoaku said Aderonke lodged into a guest house located at Plot 419, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Jabi after making payment through an EcoBank ATM, opposite the guesthouse.
He added that the receptionist allowed the complainant to check into the room after showing proof of payment on her phone, despite not receiving the alert.
Around 11:00pm the following day, one of the defendants, Fakoya, told Aderonke that he had not received the alert and ordered her room to be locked.
In anger, Aderonke broke the guest room door and Fakoya ordered the other two defendants, Comede and Cho, to forcefully carry her out of the facility. In the process, Aderonke sustained injury.
During police investigation, the defendants denied the allegation, offences which contravene the provisions of Sections 263, 97 and 241 of the Penal Code Law.
However, the defence counsel, Charity Nwosu, made an oral bail application, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, assuring that the defendants would not jump bail, if granted.
Justice Muhammed Wakili admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 and one surety each in like sum with BVN printout, valid passport photograph and identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.
Wakili further adjourned the matter until May 23, for hearing.
Credit: NAN