A sexagenarian, Paul Okedare, and his wife, Funke, are in pain after a co-tenant, identified only as Tunde, allegedly brutalised them at their residence on Unity Street, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that Tunde, a welder, had a disagreement with the couple which bordered on his inability to pay his share of the house electricity bill.
Our correspondent learnt that Funke was in the kitchen preparing food for her 62-year-old husband when she went to the corridor to fetch water from a drum.
While fetching the water, Tunde, who was also fetching water from his drum, allegedly splashed water on the woman.
Paul told our correspondent that this led to an altercation, alleging that the suspect beat up his wife.
He claimed that when he attempted to intervene, Tunde brutalised him as well.
“I asked him what happened and he pounced on me until our co-tenants separated us. He rained curses on me and my wife. After people intervened, he passed the other side of the building to meet me and used an iron rod to hit me on the hand and chest. I was on my way to thank our co-tenants for intervening when he started attacking me again. I sustained serious injuries,” he added.
Paul said Tunde was angry that he did not support him (Tunde) when tenants met regarding the electricity bill.
The suspect denied brutalising the couple, adding that he had commenced payment of his outstanding electricity bill.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the matter was reported at the Ikotun Police Station.
He said, “It was a case of assault occasioning harm. The suspect assaulted both husband and wife over pouring of water.
“The suspect was arrested and interrogated and he confessed to the crime. He, however, pleaded with the complainant for forgiveness. Peace agreement was entered into by the suspect and the complainant. It has been settled amicably.”
