By Vivian Deladem & Olamide Iwala

A family scuffle has landed a trader, Mrs. Ujuh Ani and her stepdaughter, Seun Aderounmu, in the dock at an Akure Magistrate’s Court, where they are standing trial for alleged assault and willful destruction of property valued at N1.5 million.

The duo appeared before Magistrate Grace Alphonso, facing a three-count charge bordering on physical violence and malicious damage.

The court heard that Ani, the third wife of Mr. Michael Aderounmu, allegedly destroyed several of her husband’s belongings during the fracas, including five aluminium windows, two Toyota vehicle windscreens and part of a fence, all estimated to cost N1.5 million.

She was also accused of physically assaulting Seun during the altercation, inflicting injuries on the young girl, in an incident that occurred at their residence.

Meanwhile, Seun, who is the second defendant in the case, was said to have retaliated by damaging a show glass worth N30,000, reportedly belonging to her stepmother, during the heated confrontation.

The offences contravene Sections 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

Narrating her ordeal in court, Seun told the court that she and her younger sister had just returned home from a common entrance examination and were hungry, having left the house without food earlier that morning.

“Our father promised there would be food when we returned. I went to the kitchen to warm the rice cooked by our stepmother. She came in and started questioning me. I tried to explain, but she got angry and attacked me. She even attempted to strangle me,” Seun alleged.

She claimed the attack left her injured and that in her attempt to escape the assault, she accidentally knocked over a show glass at her stepmother’s shop.

But Mrs Ani offered a different version of events. She told the court that she had discovered the tap in her room had been mysteriously turned off. Suspecting foul play, she confronted Seun in the kitchen.

She insisted the root of the family tension was her husband’s failure to instill discipline in his children, a situation she said had eroded order and respect in the home.

According to her, the altercation intensified when Seun fled and allegedly damaged her shop’s glass display out of spite.

After listening to both sides, Magistrate Alphonso granted the two defendants bail in the sum of N20,000 each, to be paid at the court registry and refunded at the conclusion of the trial.

The court also urged all parties to seek peaceful resolution and warned against further escalation of hostilities.

In a further directive, the complainant was ordered to provide alternative accommodation for Mrs. Ani within three months and ensure her container shop is restored for business purposes.