16th July, 2023
By Paul Iyoghojie
The Police at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos of the Nigeria Police have arrested an 87-year-old retired Lieutenant Commander Fasasi Adebanjo and four others and charged them before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court for allegedly conspiring to damage property valued at N5,800,000 belonging to Efoba Construction and Engineering Services Limited.
Also charged with him for the alleged offence include Monsurayo Mukaila Abiodun, 59; Victor Taiwo, 64; Mutiu Musiliu, 49; and Adetayo Babatunde, 45.
Police alleged that the retired army officer led others to the construction yard located at Lane Village, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos to maliciously damage plantain farm crops, office wall fence, Mac Truck parts and others valued at N5.8m for unjustifiable reasons.
Police further alleged that following the development, the management of the construction company petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Ari Mohammed Ali who directed his men to fish out the defendants.
The police team arrested the defendants at their various hideouts after several days of intelligence gathering and tracking.
The defendants were charged before the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Police counsel, Ben Ekundayo told the court in the Charge TA/27/2023 that the defendants committed the offence between 23 January and 10 March 2017 at Efoba Construction and Engineering Services Limited located at Efoba Yard, Maryland, Lagos.
Ekundayo told the court that the retired Army officer not minding his age and status led four others to the complainant’s site to damage properties valued at N5.8m for no just cause which led to their arrest.
He said the offences, the defendants committed were punishable under Sections 411 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mr A. A. Paul granted them N5m bail each with two sureties each in like sum.
The case has been adjourned till 23 July 2023 for mention.