Two women and nine men were on Monday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly setting ablaze one Mitsubishi pickup belonging to the Nigeria Police Force at Apapa.
The ladies are Patience Emmanuel (19) and Okuazu Harreth (19). The men are Seun Akomgbe (21), Salau Rafiu (25), Ibrahim Sodiq (25), Ibobo Charles (25), Osaiti Okoduwa (33), Joseph Ojima (33), Okuazu Clinton (23), Israel Bright (27) and Yusuf Ahmed (20).
They are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace, possession of unlawful weapons, assault, attempt to kill, fighting and setting ablaze police vehicle.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Iyabosa Onaiwu, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on November 10, 2018 at about 12pm along Olayinka Road, Ajegunle, Apapa.
“The defendants conspired together with others at large to set ablaze one Mitsubishi pickup with registration number KJA 281 AX property of Nigeria Police Force,” Onaiwu said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendants unlawfully assembled together to disturb the peace of the people of Ajegunle and were found with cutlasses and other offensive weapons in the public without authority.
Onaiwu added that the defendants inflicted different degrees of injury on one Owoseni Sodiq and did attempt to kill him with cutlass and other offensive weapons, which caused him grievous harm.
According to her, the offences are punishable under sections 409, 45, 51, 230 (2), 245, 54 and 342 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Magistrate O. S Abioye granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties, according to the Magistrate, must furnish the court with proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the matter till December 3, 2018 for mention.
