A Chief Magistrates' Court in Wuse, Abuja, has remanded four persons in a correctional centre for allegedly beating up a lawyer, Mr. Ajiki John, without provocation.

The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, adjourned the case until July 7 for a ruling on the bail application made by the defendants' counsels, Mr. E. O. Chur and O. J. Agu.

The police had charged Jacob Fidelis, Sharon Chidera, Itoro Robert, and William Raymond with joint act, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief, and defamation. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Donatus Abah, told the court that the complainant, John, reported the matter to the FCT Police Commissioner on June 17. (NAN)

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Abah alleged that while the complainant went to Iyemi Plaza, Gudu, Abuja, to serve a process, the defendants suddenly attacked and beat him up on the said date. He further alleged that the defendants flung the complainant to the floor, destroyed his cellphone, and threatened to kill him.

"The defendants accused the complainant of being a kidnapper and fake lawyer in public, and all his explanations and pleading fell on deaf ears," Abah said. He added that the defendants continued to assault the complainant until the police came to his rescue.

The defence counsel applied for the bail of the defendants following their not-guilty plea, but the application was vehemently objected to by the prosecution counsel. (NAN)