Alaba Trader Docked For Destroying N2m Gate House
A trader at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, Chidi Chimezie, was Tuesday arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, willfully damage and conduct likely to breach public peace.
Arraigning the defendant before the court on Tuesday, ForceCIID’s lawyer, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the defendant and others now at large, sometimes in March, 2018, at about 5.30 p.m., invaded 11, Chibuzor Street, Mosafejo-Ilufe, Ojo, Lagos and wilfully destroyed the security gate house, belonging to one Osita Ezeani.
He also told the that the defendant and others, in the course of destroying Ezeani, caused breach of public peace, which made the residents of the community scrapping for safety.
Animashaun told the court that the offences committed by the defendant are contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 350 and 168 (1)(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendant’s plea, his lawyers, Gani Oyeravuegbe, E. O. Amadi and T. Y. Okeke, orally applied to court for his bail.
Responding, the prosecutor, Animashaun told the court that granting bail to defendant is at court’s discretion. But said it took the police several period for the defendant to be arrested, adding that granting the defendant bail, will jeopardy police efforts in arresting other suspects who are at large.
However, Chief Magistrate Awoyinka admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N200, 000.00 with two sureties in like sum.
Awoyinka also ordered that the sureties must produce three years tax with evidence of means of livelihood, which must be verified by the prosecutor.
Awoyinka however ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.
Count one of the offence against the defendant read w: “that you Chidi Chimezie ‘m’ and others at large sometimes in March 2018 at about 1730hrs at No 11. Chibuzor Street, Mosafejo-Ilufe, Ojo, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offences with malicious damage and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Law 01 Lagos State 2015
Count two reads: “that you Chidi Chimezie ‘m’ and others at large on the same date time and place In the aforesaid Magisterial District did Without lawful excuse willfully damage the security gate house property of one Osita Ezeani valued N2, 000.000 (Two Million Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
And count three reads: “that you Chidi Chimezie ‘m’ and omen at large on the same date. time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did conduct yourselves In a manner likely to cause breach of peace by invading the property of one Osita Ezeani and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 168 (1)(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015”.
