By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Three men have been arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate court for allegedly mounting illegal roadblocks to extort money from motorists along Lokoja/ Abuja highway.
The trio, Abbah Emmanuel, Umar Abubakar and Kingsley Danasabe who pleaded not guilty to the charges were also arraigned for criminal conspiracy.
The Police Prosecutor, G. O. Itowo said on 13th November, the vigilante group of Lokoja LGA brought the suspects to the police having caught them impersonating the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services. He said the three suspects erected a roadblock along Lokoja – Abuja road for their illegal revenue collections.
Otowu told the court that investigation had commenced on the case even as he argued that the court should not grant the three suspects bail, in the overall interest of ” larger society “.
He said ” Even though bail is a constitutional right of the suspects, your worship should also consider the overall interest of the larger society and rule on the bail application judiciously and judicially.”
The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application, “I however urged the court to thread on the path of caution, and judicially and judiciously look into the case before considering the bail application.”
Counsel to the three suspects, Muazu Abass had earlier pleaded with the court to grant them bail, arguing that they had been in the police custody since 13,November, 2024 when they were arrested.
Abass assured the court that the suspects would present credible sureties who would ensure that they make themselves available in court whenever they are directed to do so.
His words ” The defendants have been in police custody since 13,November, 2024 when they were arrested.The period they have spent in the custody has qualified this court to exercise its discretion on the bail application we have brought before you.The defendants will furnish this court with reliable sureties who will ensure that they are always in court whenever the court so directs.We urge the court to admit the three defendants to a bail in the most liberal terms and in the interest of Justice.”
The Magistrate after listening to the defendants counsel’s application for bail and the response of the prosecutor, granted bail to the three defendants, “Without much ado, that on the circumstances of this application, the interest of justice tilt towards the applicant.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopa admitted the suspects to bail, in the sum of N400,000 each.
He also directed that the sureties must be residents in the state and should be civil servant with the state or with the Federal Government on the salary level of not lower than GL 14.
Chief Magistrate Mopa also directed that the sureties should submit their recent passport photographs and valid I.D cards as well as veritable home addresses to the court.
The Chief Magistrate adjourned the case till 11 th,December, 2024 for “further mention.”
