Two Men Docked Over Alleged Land Grabbing
A 53 year-old man, Tajudeen Muili, and Mukaila Muyideen, 52, were Friday, arraigned before Igboosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on felony, land grabbing, and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
The two defendants and others now at large, according to the police from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, simetimes in 2015, conspired among themselves to commit felony, by unlawfully entered into a parcel of land belonging to one Ben Emmanuel Odigie.
The police also stated in the charge marked B/87/2018, the the two defendants during the encroachment into Odigie’s land, unlawfully destroyed the structure erected on the land, in an attempt to forcefully take over the land.
The police allege that the two defendants and others now at large, during the encroachment into Odigie’s land, conducted themselves in a manner that caused breach of public peace.
Arraigning the defendants in court today, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the police came into the matter, after Odigie wrote a petition to the Police Commissioner in-charge FCIID, Mr. Hamed Mogaji, and that upon receiving the petition, both parties were invited for interrogation.
Barrister Animashaun further told the court that upon conclusion of the investigation, the two defendants admitted committing the offences, and they were brought to court.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendants are in contravention to Sections 411, 520, 309 and 168(1)(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following their plea of not guilty, their lawyer, Mr. Gani Olanrewaju, pleaded with the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
Olanrewaju told the court that the defendants have capable sureties, and they will not jump bail, if granted.
Responding, the prosecutor, Animashaun, stated that granting bail is at the discretion of the court. He however told the court if it is mindful of admit bail to the defendants, the terms of the bail should be made that the defendants will attend their trial.
Ruling on the parties’ submissions, Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs), admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the same sum.
Oshin ordered that one of the sureties, must file before the court a statement of account with N500, 000, credit balance, while the other must be a blood relation to the defendant.
The magistrate also ordered that each of the defendants must shoe evidence of three years tax payment paid to Lagos State government and to file affidavit of means before the court. All these are to be verify by the prosecutor.
The magistrate, while adjourned the matter till August 8, for trial, ordered that the two defendants be remanded in prison custody, pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.
