NAN-H-47
Trespass
By Tomisin Oladele
Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded 14 men in Ikoyi prison over alleged forceful entry into a property belonging to Kasmal International Limited.
The accused persons are Shefiudeen Bakare, 62; Tajudeen Bakare, 45; Kolawole Amode, 38; Olatunji Lawal, 38; Kabiru Salami, 51; Biodun Sanni, 32 and Saheed Quadri, 33.
Others are Femi Adeturinmo, 22; Olaitan Adebayo, 26; Abideen Olatunji, 33; Olawale Goodluck, 37; Saheed Azeez, 29; Azeez Jimoh, 29 and Adeniyi Laminu, 28.
They are facing a three-count charge of forceful entry; conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and carrying dangerous weapons to cause terror to members of the public.
The prosecutor, Insp. Philip Osijiale, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on Nov. 14 at about 2.00 p.m. at Ogombo Town, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
He said that the accused persons conspired to forcefully enter the company’s property and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace.
Osijiale added that they were armed with machetes, Indian hemp, charms and other dangerous weapons to cause fear to employees of the company.
“The company bought 175 acres of land in the town on Nov. 14.
“On that same day some land grabbers came with dangerous weapons and chased the company’s employees away from the land,’’ the prosecutor said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 56, 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and Lagos State Property Protection Law No (47(7) 2016 of Nigeria.
They pleaded not guilty.
Their defence counsel, Mr Ebunoluwa Adegoruwa, applied for bail for his clients on liberal terms.
Adegorowa promised that his law firm would produce them whenever they were needed in court.
But the prosecutor urged the court not to grant the accused persons bail on grounds that they constitute threat to the society.
“My lord, the 14 accused persons were caught with dangerous weapons to carry out their unlawful mission.
“If they had not been caught, they would have wrecked havoc in that community,’’ he said.
The Magistrate, Mrs Memunat Folami, denied bail application for the accused persons and ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.
She said that the issue of bail would be considered at a future date and adjourned the case to Dec. 29 for trial. (NAN)
TME/AIB/AEA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Archibong Asuq