The Nigerian police on Friday arraigned five individuals before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged malicious damage and assault.
The defendants – Aliu Ojo, 40; Ajayi Oluwafemi, 47; Ajayi Akindele, 56; Felix Aliyu, 28; and Owolabi Ojo, 52 – face a four-count charge relating to malicious damage, assault, breach of peace, and threat to life.
“The defendants committed the offence on May 5 at Ipara community along Ijan road in Ado-Ekiti,” said the Prosecutor, Insp. Akinwale Oriyomi, in court.
Oriyomi alleged that the defendants maliciously damaged two Infinix phones worth N200,000 and one power bank worth N100,000 belonging to Abdulraheem Osupa-Adinni.
He also claimed that Aliyu Ojo and Felix Aliyu assaulted Abdulraheem Sanusi, causing injury, while Aliyu Ojo allegedly threatened to kill Alhaji Osupa-Adinni.
The prosecutor explained that the defendants’ actions stemmed from a land dispute and escalated into violence, with the defendants attacking the complainants with dangerous weapons.
“The offences contravene Sections 249, 186, 249, and 46(1&2) of the Criminal Code Cap 16, Vol II Laws of Ekiti State, 2012,” Oriyomi added.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Mr Olumide Olowolafe for the first, second, and fourth defendants, and Mrs Adunni Olanipekun for the third and fifth defendants, requested bail, assuring that the defendants would not flee.
Chief Magistrate Mr Abayomi Adeosun granted bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties each in like sum. He stated that the sureties must provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance.
The case was adjourned until June 5 for hearing.
(NAN)