Man in court over N18,000 pepper soup

A 37-year-old man, Friday Benjamin, on Tuesday appeared before a Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory charged with malicious damage and overturning a pot of pepper soup at a restaurant.Benjamin, who resides at Block 7, Yaba Close, Area 7, Garki, is facing a charge of mischief. The Prosecutor, Urom Inah told the court that one Francis Urasi of Area 10, behind Murg Plaza, Garki had reported the matter at the Garki police station on Feb. 26. Inah said the accused broke three chairs and tables worth N16,500, and threw out a pot of pepper soup worth N18,000 belonging to the restaurant. He said that Benjamin also damaged the bonnet of a vehicle outside the restaurant with scratch marks, property of Mr Osita Igboanugo. The prosecutor said that the offence committed contravened Section 327 of the Penal Code. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. The presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the accused N100,000 bail with one reliable surety in like sum. Kagarko said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case till May 9 for hearing.