Abuja lawyer faces legal charges for refusing to pay commercial sex worker, assaulting her
The police on Wednesday arraigned one Ekunife Emmanuel, a 26-year-old lawyer from Jahi, Abuja, in a Lugbe Grade I Area Court in Abuja for allegedly assaulting a commercial sex worker.
The charges against him include criminal breach of trust, assault, causing hurt, and inciting disturbance, all of which he has denied committing.
The incident was brought to light when the complainant, Queeneth John, a commercial sex worker operating in Wuse Zone 5 Abuja, reported the matter to the Asokoro police station on March 12.
According to the prosecution counsel, Olisaemeka Okeke, John claimed that on March 11, around 10 p.m., Emmanuel approached her while she was hawking in Wuse and took her to Bannex Plaza, where he demanded sexual services.
Following the encounter, Emmanuel allegedly failed to fulfill his promise of payment to the complainant, leading to a confrontation where he proceeded to assault her, resulting in bruises on her body.
Furthermore, it was reported that upon being brought to Asokoro Police Station, the defendant began recording videos of the station and police officers, inciting disturbance in a public office.
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As the legal proceedings unfold, more details are emerging, including a purported confessional statement by the defendant during the police investigation.
Okeke said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 312, 365, 244 and 114 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million and a surety in like sum.
“I hereby grant the defendant bail in line with section 165(2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to deposit 10 per cent of the bail sum at the court registry pending the determination of the case.
He ordered that the surety must be a legal practitioner of not less than 5 years in practice and must summit his or her call to bar certificate.
He said the surety must reside within the court jurisdiction and adjourned the case until April 18 for hearing.
