Court remands lawmaker for assault

An Upper Area Court 1 in Lafia, on Monday remanded in prison, Francis Orogu, the member representing Keana in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker was charged with assault, conspiracy and intimidation, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The presiding judge, Sham Shamam, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison pending the determination of his application for bail.

Reacting, Mr Ochahile Ogyede, counsel to the accused, expressed displeasure over the decision of the judge to remand his client.

He said that the offences for which his client was standing trial were bailable, adding that the judge was supposed to have granted him bail.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Abraham Aloko, expressed gratitude to the court, saying, “It is in the interest of justice.”

The state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Innocent Lagi, had filed the suit against the accused for assaulting him while trying to serve a court order on the House.