By Daniel Tyokua
An Abuja Magistrate court sitting in Wuse zone 6, has remanded four traders at Suleja Maximum Correctional Centre for allegedly breaking down perimeter fence constructed around the Dutsen-Alhaji market by the Federal Capital Territory.
The traders, Donatus Iheme, Amadi Christian, Sunday Markus and Ibrahim Yakubu,were arraigned on three counts charge of ” Joint act, mischief and inciting disturbance, said to be contrary to sections 79, 327 and 114 of the Penal code law.
After pleading not guilty to the offences, the presiding Magistrate, Aminu Eri granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N5m and two sureties each in the like sum, but were taken to Correctional Centre pending when they perfect the conditions of the bail. Proper hearing of the case has been fixed for September 2nd 2021.
The prosecuting counsel, Charity Okaruo said the accused persons will remain in custody, until they fulfill the bail conditions, even though they had pleaded not guilty.
Okaruo stated that the four traders and others at large, have a case to answer over the market fence that was destroyed.
The defendants Counsel, Christian Tabugbo, however accused the FCT Minister and the Bwari Area Council Chairman of plans to intimidate the traders.
The lawyer disclosed that the traders had written to both Minister and the Council Chairman, requesting to remove the fence, as a measure to creating multiple entry points to the market.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on Traffic Management, Ikharo Attah said that no approval was ever given to the traders permitting the removal of the fence.
