A 42-year-old man identified as Daniel Okafor was on Tuesday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly posing as a soldier and assaulting a Security Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Apapa.
Okafor, who resides in Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and impersonation.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Adeniyi Balogun, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on February 28, 2019 at about 7:45am at First Gate, Tin-Can Island, Apapa.
“The defendant assaulted one Ogbebute Anthony, an NPA staff, by holding on to his uniform and obstructing him from performing his lawful duty,” Balogun said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant posed as a member of the Nigerian Armed Forces by flashing an identity card of the Nigerian Army, a fact which he knew to be false.
According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under sections 174 and 77 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate A.S Okubule granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety. The surety, according to the Magistrate, must furnish the court with proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case till April 18, 2019 for mention.