(http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Ebute-Meta-Chief-Magistrate-Court-360x225.jpg)A magistrate of an Ebute Meta Magistrate's Court, Mr. Tunbosun Abolarinwa, has faulted the Nigeria Railway Corporation on the ticketing system of the corporation.
The magistrate spoke after 17 youths were arraigned for allegedly riding on the roof of a train.
While condemning the action of the youths, which he said was wrong, Abolarinwa advised NRC to review its ticketing system, saying it exposed some youths to delinquent and dangerous acts.
He said, "This is the fourth or fifth time they will bring this large number of people for this same offence to my court. Many more of these peopleare in the other courts.
"All these youths should not be exposed to what will endanger their lives. The police should write the authorities so that they can educate those who sell the tickets. If there is anything we can put in place to end this, we should do it, not just bring them to court every time and they are granted bail only to return."
Earlier, the defendants were arraigned on four counts of felony and trespass.
The police said they were caught at Ikeja, Lagos, riding on the roof of a moving train on November 5, 2013.
They were also said to have trespassed the premises of the NRC.
The charges read in part, "That you, Donatus Eze, Goodnews George, Tochukwu Okenwa, Adeyanju Aliu, Gbenga Oyewole, Victor Iyere, Tunde Oba, Giwa Kayode, Stanley Emeka, Kunle Akimbo, Ayoade Abiodun, Lekan Aina, David Ike, Samuel Odus, Taofek Salwudeen, Segun Alamu, Dandy Apolo, and others now at large on November 5, 2013, at 7.30pm at Ikeja Railway line in Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; riding on the roof top of the moving train."
The offences were said to be punishable under sections 409, 252, 166 and 357 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Their defence counsels, Mr. Ossa Kayode, S.O Osuyi, and R.I Adeyemi, urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
The prosecutor, Inspector U.A Moses, who stood in for the resident prosecutor, Okon Effiong, however objected to their bail.
A counsel to the defendants, Mr Ossa Kayode, argued that the offence was bailable, adding that some of the defendants were only victims of circumstances.
The magistrate, in his ruling, said the defendants would be granted bail as "there is no space in the cell and even in Kirikiri."
He granted the 17 defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in the sum of N50,000.
The matter was adjourned till December 11.
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