Taxi Driver Strips Female Passenger Naked Over Argument

A man identified as Chinedu Ukadu was on Friday arraigned before the Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja for allegedly stripping and assaulting a female passenger in public.

The Abuja-based taxi driver who is a residence of Gwagwa Karmo village was brought before the court on three counts of criminal force, assault and mischief.

Ijeoma Ukagha, the prosecutor told the court that the case was reported on April 10 at the Utako Police Station Abuja, by the complainant, Chukwu Chinaza of 294, Owners Occupier Kubwa Abuja.

Ukagha revealed that the victim on the same boarded the defendant’s taxi from Wuse Zone 3 to Berger roundabout.

She stated that Chinaza had an argument with the defendant on the way and on getting to Berger bus stop, Ukabu forced the complainant out of the car.

“In the process of pushing her from the car, Ukabu criminally and violently tore the complainant’s cloth valued at N25,000 and stripped her naked in the public,” Ukagha said.

She said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 327 and 265 of the Penal Code.

However, the taxi driver denied the allegations.

The prosecutor prayed the court to grant her date to open her case against the defendant.

The judge, Inuwa Maiwada, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N25,000 and one surety in like sum.

Maiwada ordered that the surety must be a Grade Level 8 officer in the civil service and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge also said that the surety must present letter of appointment and current utility bill in his name to the court registrar.

Maiwada, who said that the surety must present any valid means of identification as part of the bail condition, adjourned the case till May 15 for hearing.