TWO MIDDLE AGED MEN ARRAIGNED FOR LAND GRABBING

IGBOSERE, Lagos, Nigeria – Two middle aged men, Tajudeen Muili (53) and Mukaila Muyideen (52) were on Friday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court for land grabbing. They were arraigned by police from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi before Chief Magistrate O. Oshin (Mrs) on offences bordering on felony, land grabbing and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

The two defendants and others now at large sometimes in 2015, conspired among themselves to commit felony, by unlawfully entering into a parcel of land belonging to one Ben Emmanuel Odigie. According to the police, during their encroachment into Odigie’s land, the two unlawfully destroyed structure erected on the land, in an attempt to forcefully take over the land.

The police alleged that the defendants and others now at large conducted themselves in a manner that caused breach of public peace. The prosecution lawyer, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the police came into the matter when Odigie petitioned the Police Commissioner in-charge FCIID, Mr. Hamed Mogaji, and that upon receiving the petition, both parties were invited for interrogation.

Animashaun further told the court that upon conclusion of the investigation, the two defendants admitted committing the offences, and were brought to court. Their offences contravene Sections 411, 520, 309 and 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Following their plea of not guilty, defendant lawyer Gani Olanrewaju, pleaded with the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms. Adding that the defendants have capable sureties, and they will not jump bail, if granted.

Ruling on the parties’ submissions,  Magistrate Oshin therefore admitted them bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the same sum.
She ordered that one of the sureties, must file before the court a statement of account with N500, 000, credit balance, while the other must be a blood relation to the defendant.

The magistrate also ordered that each of the defendants must show evidence of 3-year tax payment to Lagos State government and to file affidavit of means before the court. All these are to be verify by the prosecutor. She subsequently adjourned the matter till August 8.