Three traders, Fatimoh Raheem, 47, Mutiat Olayiwola, 32 and Dupe Salawudeen, 41, who allegedly assaulted two policemen, while on duty, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendants, all residents of Mushin, are standing trial on a four-count charge of breach of peace, resisting arrest, serious assault and conspiracy.
According to the Prosecutor, Insp Aondohemba Koti, the defendants committed the offence on March 23 at Mushin, Lagos, NAN reports.
He said that the defendants assaulted ASP Abayomi Adejumo and Insp Oluseun Adelaja while trying to restore peace in a situation.
“The policemen were assaulted when they were trying to make peace between the defendants and some electricity officials.
“Koti said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by seizing the ladder, property of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) over disconnection of power supply.
“The defendants also obstructed James Iwebo, Adewale Yusuf and Gideon Ogereghe, the electricity officials, from performing their duties.
“After the officials disconnected the defendants’ electricity supply, they seized the ladder and sat on it, ordering them to reconnect back the light.
“The electricity officials called the police when they could no longer handle the situation. The defendants still refused to release the ladder and instead, they beat up the policemen.
“The defendants resisted arrest but were later forced to the station,’’ the prosecutor said.
The defendants, however, denied the charges.
The offences contravened Sections 168, 117, 174 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 117 carries three years imprisonment for resisting arrest, while section 174 attracts three years for serious assault.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs M.O Tanimola, granted the defendants bail of N60, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.
Tanimola said that all the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until April 30 for mention.
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