15 suspects arraigned for assaulting policeman

[Punch]

Fifteen men were on Friday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly conspiring and assaulting a policeman, Cpl. Sunday Okoye, and removing five of his teeth.

The accused, Dauda Iliya (19), Ibrahim Danladi (20), Yusuf Haruna (25), Usman Musa (26), Abubakar Saidu (19), Shaidu Mohammed (25), Adamu Musa (20), Adamu Danladi (20) and Egan Dauda (25); Monday Joseph (20), Ibrahim Mohammed (30), Abdul Kareem (21), Nuhu Adamu (25), Saliu Musa (25) and Biliaminu Adamu (25), appeared before an Apapa Chief Magistrates' Court, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The 15 accused persons are facing a three-count charge of assault, conspiracy and inflicting permanent injury on the policeman, attached to the Area `B' Command, Apapa.

All the accused, who are of no fixed address, however, pleaded 'not guilty' before Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clara Olagbayi, said the accused had a case to answer, after they unlawfully conspired and assaulted Okoye and removed five of his teeth during the attack.

"You conspired and attacked Okoye, a police corporal and removed five of his teeth, while he was performing his lawful duty," the prosecutor said.

Olagbayi said the offence was committed on March 12 at about 9 p.m on Liverpool Road, Apapa.

The accused, according to the charge sheet, also constituted themselves into a nuisance and caused a breach of the peace by fighting innocent people on the street.

The prosecutor said that the offences, for which the accused have been charged, contravened Sections 172, 244 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Mrs Adelaja admitted each of the accused to a bail in the sum of N100,000, with one surety each in like sum.

She said the sureties should also show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government, as part of the bail conditions and adjourned the case till April 25, for the continuation of hearing.



The Punch