13th May, 2011
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned 44 accused before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for disturbing the peace of Ijede and Egbin communities in Ikorodu.
The accused were alleged to have caused mayhem and massive destruction of buildings, vehicles and other valuable properties within the community. The police also accused them of inflicting various degrees of injuries on members of the public on May 2, 2011, between 4p.m. and 7p.m. at Ijede and Egbin communities in Ikorodu, Lagos.
They were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, felony, riotous assembly, unlawful possession of firearms and breach of peace, offences which the prosecutor claimed were punishable under sections 516, 71, 80, 335, 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria and contrary to Section 5 and punishable under Section 271 (1) (c) (i) of the Firearms Act., Cap. F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted on bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
The presiding magistrate further ordered that the sureties must be blood relations and must present evidence of paying tax to the Lagos State government.
The case has been adjourned till 29 June, for mention.
—Abosede Agboola