A 34-year-old Libya returnee, Stanley Onyema, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for allegedly attempting to murder his wife by stabbing her over the sale of his property in Lagos.
Onyema is facing a three-count charge of burglary, assault and attempted murder.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olugbenga Salami, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 19, 2019 at about 2:30pm at No 13 Aiyenero Street, Ajegunle, Lagos.
“The defendant broke into the house of one Onyeye Ozordi, his wife and assaulted one Amarachi Chima, by holding her on her neck,” Salami said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant attempted to murder Ozordi by using a kitchen knife to stab her on the neck, hand and below her abdomen, which caused her bodily harm.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 307, 170 and 230 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, told the court that the complainant sold off his property when he travelled to Libya.
“I went to Libya but I had to come back to Nigeria to get my work permit. When I got to the house, I realized that my wife had sold off my propertty,” Onyema said.
Magistrate O.A Erinle ordered that the duplicate of the case file be transferred to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
She adjourned the case till August 5, 2019 for mention.