An
executive secretary in Benue has found himself in more trouble than he
can handle after doing an unprecedented thing to his subordinate.
James Pine, the Executive Secretary of Teaching Service Board, Makurdi, Benue State has been jailed.
The man was sentenced to five months imprisonment by a chief magistrate’s court sitting in Makurdi, on Thursday.
According to The Punch, Pine was charged to court for assaulting his subordinate in March, 13, 2016.
Pine was charged with assault and criminal use of force, an act
punishable under Section 268 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State 2004.
Delivering judgment, Dan Ogoh held that witnesses called by
prosecution testified to the effect that they were at the TSB
headquarters and saw that the convict slapped and pushed the complainant
to the ground.
He said the defence could not dislodge the testimony.
The trial magistrate said, ‘The avalanche of evidence of
prosecution point to the same direction and conclusion establishing that
the offence was committed.’
The magistrate thereby sentenced Pine to five months imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine.
A team of prosecution lawyers led by Demeer Adi of Damsa Damsa and Co. called three witnesses.
Pine had during the trial denied assaulting or using criminal force
against Asema and said under cross examination that it was wrong for a
chief executive officer to slap a subordinate.
His counsel, Ambrose Ikpa, argued that the case of the complainant
was a desperate attempt to prosecute the head of secondary school
education in Benue State, having earlier prayed for a “no case submission,” which was discountenanced by the court.
This judgment makes it second time that a top officials of Benue
State Government would be sentenced for offence of assault and criminal
use of force.
The first public officer in the state to receive the sentence was
Magdalene Damkor, the then Rector of College of Advanced and
Professional Studies Makurdi.
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