The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned two stowaways, Joseph Obasi (24) and Tokunbo Michael (23) before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly entering a vessel without purchasing travelling ticket.
The prosecutor, Alexander Esebamen, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 17, 2018 at about 9:30pm at Atlascove Jetty.
He said, “The accused boarded MT. FPMC 20 vessel without purchasing travelling ticket with the intention of travelling to Germany.”
According to him, the offence is punishable under section 400 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Obasi and Michael pleaded guilty to the charge brought against them.
Magistrate T.R Oladele adjourned the case till May 4, 2018 for facts and sentence.
In a separate matter, a 25-year-old surety, Abubakar Yusuf, was on Friday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly failing to produce a ‘wharf rat’ who is undergoing trial.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Adeniyi Balogun, told the court that the surety committed the offence on December 1, 2016 at Court 1, Apapa.
He said, “The surety obstructed and prevented the cause of justice by conspiring with one Sulaimon Dauda, who is currently undergoing trial at the above named court to enable him jump bail.”
Balogun added that the surety had entered into a bond of N100,000 for the appearance of Dauda whereas on February 2018, the case was called in court and there was no appearance of the defendant.
The prosecutor asked him to show reason why the bond he entered should not be forfeited to the Lagos State Government.
According to him, the offences are punishable under section 97 and 132 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, the surety pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge brought against him.
Chief Magistrate A.O Awogboro granted him a bail in the sum of N100,000 with one “responsible surety”.
She adjourned the case till May 22, 2018 for mention.
