A 58-year-old businessman, Abubakar Danhadeja, was on Monday arraigned in an Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, FCT for alleged defamation of character.

The police charged Danhadeja of Pantakar market Zuba, Abuja with criminal intimidation and defamation of character.

The prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko told the court that the complainant, Illiyasu Abdullahi, also of Pantakar market Zuba reported the matter at Zuba police station on January 29.

Tanko said that the defendant sometimes in January approached the complainant in the market and threatened to deal with him and make life unbearable for him and his family.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 397 and 392 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Defence Counsel, C.E. Ezeugwu prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms, adding that if granted he will not jump bail or interfere with the investigation of the matter.

She cited section 158, 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to back up his claims for bail.

The Judge, Sani Umar admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one reasonable surety in like sum.

Umar ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide two recent passport photograph.

He said that in default the defendant should be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Centre in Suleja.

He adjourned the case until April 12 for hearing.

-NAN