10th March, 2016
Henry Ojelu
88 more suspects arrested in connection with the Mile 12 crisis were on Thursday arraigned before three magistrate courts sitting in Ikeja.
So far, a total of 177 persons have been arraigned over the crisis inclusive of 89 that were arraigned on Wednesday.
The three magistrates are Mrs. A.O. Layinka, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi and Mrs. Aje-Afunwa.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the two count charge offence preferred against them.
In the first count, the defendants with others at large, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves “to commit felony to wit: riot and thereby committed offence punishable under section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”.
According to the second count, the defendants and others at large were accused of “unlawful assembly and acting in a disorderly manner to disturb the public peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 45 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”.
Citing section 211 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Martins told the court that he has the instruction of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the prosecution of all the suspects from the Police prosecutors.
Police Prosecutor, CSP Eno-Edobor did not oppose the decision of the state to take over prosecution.
Counsel to the first, 12th and 15th defendants, Micheal Oni urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms in view of the ‘not guilty plea’ of the defendants.
Counsel to the third, seventh and 28th defendants, Chief S.A. Bello aligned with submission of Oni and assured the court that they would not jump bail.
Martins however opposed bail for the defendants saying that none of them has no connection with the state.
“My Lord, going through their statements we found out that they don’t have places of abode while most of them are from Niger Republic and Republic of Chad.
“The purpose of bail is for them to be able to go home and come back to answer the charges against them. In this case, it would be difficult for the Police to trace them and bring them back”, he argued.
Martins argued further that if the court must grant them bail at all, given the nature of the charge, it should be such that would make it impossible for them to run away.
Ruling on the matter, Magistrate (Mrs.) Aje-Afunwa said since the offence are bailable offence, the defendants are entitled to bail.
She subsequently granted each of them bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in the like sum.
She further ordered that the sureties must present evidence of tax payment which must be verified with state Inland Revenue office and visible place of residence which address must also be verified.
She thereafter adjourned the matter to May 27, 2016.