Three men – Kujembola Olawashina, 36; Kola AfolabI, 42; Alade Adeyinka, 26, and a woman, Toyin Obide, 49 – charged with assaulting and unlafuwlly detaining a policeman, were on Monday arraigned in Lagos.
The defendants appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, breach of the peace, assault and obstructing police officer from performing his duty.
They, however, pleaded not guilty.
According to the Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, the defendants and others still at large committed the offences on Nov. 18 at Edge Base Technology, Ikeja.
He said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by beating, obstructing and detaining a police officer attached to Area F Police Command, Ikeja, from executing his duty.
“The complainant went to the defendants’ company to arrest one of their staff who failed to honour the police invitation in a case of fraud and stealing.
“The defendants prevented the complainant from arresting the suspect.
“They beat him up and locked him inside a room.
“When the complainant was finally freed without executing his duty, he came back with his colleagues to arrest the defendants while the others escaped,” the prosecutor said.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 164, 117, 174 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 174 carries three years’ imprisonment for assault while Section 117 provides for three years’ imprisonment for obstructing and resisting police officer.
The Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, gave the defendants bail of N200,000 each with two sureties, who should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case continues on Feb. 17. (NAN)
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