A Nigerian resident in Canada, Kayode Roberts, has been arraigned by the Toronto Police Service over alleged hate-motivated criminal harassment following a months-long investigation.
Police said the charges arose from a series of incidents said to have occurred between July 1 and December 29, 2025, involving a neighbour of the suspect.
According to a statement published on the Toronto Police Service website on Sunday, Roberts was accused of repeatedly harassing and assaulting the victim during the period, issuing threats and allegedly kicking the victim’s dog.
The police further alleged that the suspect made offensive anti-2SLGBTQI+ remarks during the confrontations.
The statement read that during three separate incidents within the period under review, the accused allegedly assaulted and threatened the victim, engaged in persistent harassment and caused harm to the victim’s dog.
Investigators said the suspect was located and arrested on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
The 40-year-old Toronto resident was subsequently charged with assault, uttering threats, criminal harassment and wilfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal.
The police noted that the matter was being handled as a suspected hate-motivated offence by the Hate Crime Unit, in line with Canadian law, which allows bias or prejudice to be considered during prosecution.
They explained that where a criminal offence is believed to be driven by hate, the Crown prosecutor may be consulted, and if a conviction is secured, the court may treat the motive as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
The statement added that offences relating to hate propaganda, including the promotion of hatred or advocacy of genocide, require the consent of the Attorney General and may be considered at a later stage.
Roberts is expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 10 Armoury Street, Toronto, on March 19, 2026.
The police emphasised that all charges remain allegations and that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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The arrest comes amid a growing number of cases involving Nigerians in Canada facing criminal prosecution.
