Man, 45, Docked For Land Grabbing, Threat To Life
A 45 years old suspected land grabber, Emeka John Onugha, was Friday, arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a seven count-charge bordering of conspiracy, felony, willful destruction of building, forcible entry, conduct likely to breach public peace and threat to kill.
The suspected land grabber was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku led-court, by the men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
FCIID in a charge marked B/88a/2018, alleged that the defendant and others now at larger, have sometimes in March, 2018, at Oko-Ado, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, of Lagos, conspired among themselves and forcibly entered into a large expanse of land belonging to the dou of Hassan Ogwu Aku and Smart Clement.
During the said unlawful entry into the said land, he was also alleged to have wilfully and unlawfully demolished a building structure, which was valued N120 million, belonging to the two complainants. While also alleged to have threatened to kill them.
The defendant and others now at large, was also alleged to have on the said date, conducted themselves in the manner that caused breach of public peace.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 52, 350 168(b) and 56(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. And Sections 2(3) and 7 of the Properties Protection Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
During the suspect’s arraignment before the court on Friday, the prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the defendant was charged to court, after the victim wrote a petition against to the inspectors-General Monitoring Team, (IGP Monitoring) under the leadership of Mr. Abu Sanni.
Animashaun to the court that upon careful investigating the petition, the defendant was found culpable of all allegations in the petition and he was brought to court.
Upon the plea of the defendant, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Botoku, admitted him to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in the same sum.
One of the sureties according to Botoku must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction and that the sureties must obtained three years tax payable to Lagos State government. She added that all the bail conditions must be verified by the prosecutor.
The matter has been adjourned till September 10, for commencement of trial.