Spark forces Judge to adjourn case
Posted by Admin | 10 years ago | 1,371 times
Spark forces Judge to adjourn case
By Eberechi Obinagwam
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday abruptly adjourned a criminal charge filed against 20 suspected pipeline vandals who were accused of killing nine policemen in Arepo, a suburb town between Lagos and Ogun States.
The suspects, including a 54-year-old woman, Susan Viana, were brought into the courtroom around 9:30 am on Tuesday, accused of committing crimes, which were punishable under Sections 3(6), 7(b), 17(a) and 4(a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation, 2004, and Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
Commencement of trial for the case was initially fixed for the testimony of the first prosecution witness when suddenly a spark ensued from one of the bulbs hanging directly where the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang was sitting.
A big smoke soon followed the spark, while lawyers, litigants and court officials were instantly sent into a state of panic.
The development prompted the judge to abruptly adjourn the matter till today, August 20 for continuation of trial.
The suspects, some of whom were said to have been arrested on May, 29 by men of the Joint Military Task Force in Ondo State, were being held at the detention facilities of the Nigerian Prison Services in Lagos.
The police had arraigned them on a 14-count charge bothering on conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful killings. Among them were Felix Yayu (M), 25 years; Ijoufaya (M), 42 years; Yakubu Ebiwei (M), 45 years; and Augustine Ebiwei (M), 28 years. Also arraigned were Tamara Dembofa (M), 32 years; Owei Atile (M), 37 years; Agbara Tiewei (M), 43 years; Rufus Godwin (M), 45 years; Tiery Koiyetin (M), 22 years and Ebis Sobijoh (M) 22 years.
Also among the 20 were Ibori Lawrence (M) 45 years; Eberebu Ibori (M), 30 years; Atinuke Odewale (F), 42 years; Fatai Ishola (M), 32 years; Ahmed Bashorun (M), 42 years; Odewale Waheed (M), 43 years; Susan Viana (F), 54 years; and ay Filatei (M), 36 years; Yeiyah Yellow
Also arraigned were Ibori Lawrence (M) 45 years; Eberebu Ibori (M), 30 years; Atinuke Odewale (F), 42 years; Fatai Ishola (M), 32 years; Ahmed Bashorun (M), 42 years; Odewale Waheed (M), 43 years; Susan Viana (F), 54 years; Tuesday Filatei (M), 36 years; Yeiyah Yellow (M), 28 years and Ismail Abdullahi (M), 47 years.
The police, alleged in the charge, that the suspects were the masterminds behind the oil bunkering incident at Arepo, near Ikorodu, Lagos State, which happened on May 24, 2014.
The suspects were alleged to have stormed the Arepo area in about 14 speed-boats to carry out an illegal oil bunkering deal.
According to reports, during the illegal operation, the criminals were confronted by some policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police, Anti-Pipeline Task Force, who engaged them in a gun duel.
It was said that during the shoot-out, one of the pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in the area exploded, resulting in an inferno that lasted for several days.
Report also had it that the gun battle resulted in the killing of nine policemen. Among the killed policemen were ASP Abdullahi Bature, Inspectors, Raymond Oriere; Usman Mohammed; Oguntihemen Kolawole; and Tijani Jimoh. Also reported dead were Coporals, Elogbamen Timothy; Yakubu Aliyu; Usman Abdukarim; and Dauda Mohammed.
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