A 27-year-old driver, Obinna Orji,  on Friday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos state for allegedly stabbing  a man in the left eye  with a sword.

Orji, a resident of Iwaya area of Lagos State, is facing two charges bordering on conspiracy and grievous harm.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye told the court that the defendant committed the offences at on March 25 at No. 3, Apollo Rd., Makoko, Yaba area of Lagos State.

Olaluwoye said that the complainant, Mr Segun Ajigboye, had confronted the defendant and his friends who were smoking and selling Indian hemp in his area.

She said that they refused to stop dealing in the drug and proceeded to follow Ajigboye to his house and beat him up for confronting them.

Olaluwoye told the court that they injured him on the head with broken bottles, while Orji used a sword to pierce his left eye.

“My Lord, the defendant and his group of touts ran off before the police could arrive, but the complainant was able to identify the defendant when he was arrested,” she said.

The offences contravened Sections 411 and 245 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The law also states that offence of grievous harm carries a seven-year jail term for convicted offenders.

Orji, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluwatoyin Oghere, granted the defendant N500, 000 bails with two sureties in like sum.

She ruled that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until June 26 for the mention.