A 38-year-old woman named Mary Pascal was brought before a Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after being accused of physically assaulting her landlady during an argument about an unpaid N3,000 security bill. The incident took place at their shared residence, located at No. 24, Ethopia Road in Barnawa, Kaduna.
The court hearing revealed that the dispute started when the landlady approached Pascal to settle an outstanding security fee of N3,000. According to the prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, the tenant had not paid this fee for three consecutive months, leading to a confrontation. The disagreement quickly escalated, resulting in Pascal allegedly attacking the landlady.
The assault reportedly occurred on October 12, 2024, around 4 p.m., in the compound where both women live. Inspector Leo stated that after the landlady requested the overdue payment, Pascal became angry and resorted to physical violence. “She asked the defendant to pay her security bill of N3,000 after failure to pay for three months,” Inspector Leo told the court.
Pascal, however, pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. During the court proceedings, her defense lawyer argued that there had been a misunderstanding between the tenant and the landlady, and that Pascal had no intention of causing harm.
Despite this plea, the prosecution maintained that the evidence of the assault was clear. Inspector Leo stressed that the altercation could have been avoided if the security bill had been paid on time, further emphasizing that the landlady was simply requesting what was owed to her.
The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Ibrahim Mohammed adjourned the case to allow for further investigation. The magistrate granted Pascal bail on the condition that she provides two reliable sureties, each of whom must reside in Kaduna.
