A 32-year old Nigerian Tailor, Johnson Ola, has been caught into the firm grips of the law for unlawfully causing harm to his Nigerian apprentice. Johnson Ola, in a rage of fury, cut off the private part of his apprentice with a knife in the course of an argument over money. He has pleaded not guilty to the offence, and the trial judge at the Accra Circuit Court, Mr. Justice Williwise Kyeremeh, has granted him bail for ?50million with one surety to reappear on the 15th of September 2004.

Presenting the facts of the case to the court, chief inspector Benedicta Akolgo, the complainant, Samuel Bayor, 27 and the accused person both reside at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra. Johnson worked with the complainant who was his apprentice but who, a couple of months ago, had stopped working with him. The prosecutor said Samuel secured a single room in the house in which the accused resided and paid for it, but later vacated the premises upon the orders of the landlord. Prior to his vacation, there was a misunderstanding between the accused and the complaint over money. She further told the court that on August 14, 2004, at about 8:00pm, the complainant confronted the accused to demand money he claimed the accused owed him. To his surprise, the accused came out of his room and chased him out of the premises.

Chief inspector Akolgo said, as if that was not enough, the accused trailed the complainant and subjected him to severe beatings and in the ensuring struggle, the accused, who was then armed with a knife, inflicted a sharp wound on the penis of the complainant. The complainant fell to the ground in pain and agony. Helpless, he shouted for assistance and soon several people thronged to the scene to rescue the complainant. The accused secretly threw the knife away, according to the police. Samuel Bayor was quickly rushed to the police station to make a report, and then later headed for the hospital after lodging the complaint. Sensing danger, the accused followed up to the police station to lodge a counter complaint. He was however not so fortunate; he was arrested and detained.