Two Community leaders at Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, western Nigeria, Mojeed Babtunde, 70, and Tajudeen Ajenifuja, 73, have been arraigned before a Lagos State magistrates’ court for allegedly conspiring with others now at large to unlawfully damage the walls of various uncompleted buildings valued at N100m.
The accused persons were arrested and arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court in Lagos by the operatives of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos on a four-count charge bordering on malicious damage to property, forced entry and stealing.
Police prosecutor, Inspector S. Molo informed the court in charge No. C/07/2016 that the accused persons committed the offence in November 2015 and January 2016 at Sangotedo area of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Molo told the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Mrs. A. O. Adebowale that the accused persons with others now at large entered the land by force.
The land was said to be is in peaceful possession of five complainants, namely, Engr. Ramoni Okeowo, Mrs. Omolara Fagbemi, Ikehuamen Omokhui, Mr. Charles Onachukwu, Asiegbu Wilson and International Church of Christ and willfully destroyed the walls of their buildings valued at N100m without lawful authority.
Molo said the persons also stole bags of cement valued at N25m, sand and granite valued at N50m, iron rods and other materials valued at N25m properties of the complainants.
Molo noted that the offences the accused persons committed are punishable under sections 409, 348, 52 and 285 (1) of the criminal laws of Lagos 2011.
The accused persons however denied the police allegations in the open court when the charges were read to them.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. A. O. Adebowale admitted them to bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties each in like sum.
Adebowale adjourned the case till 15 February, 2016 for mention, while the defendants were moved to Ikoyi prison, Lagos when they could not perfect their bail conditions before the court closed proceedings for the day.