Six men believed to be political thugs, who allegedly conspired with others still at large and invaded the inauguration venue of the Peoples Democratic Party Executive Committee to cause mayhem, were on Wednesday released on N300,000 bail on the order of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The accused are Tunde Edward, 53; Chika Ekwugha, 26; Mojeed Salami, 51; residents of Ifako-Ijaiye; Hakeem Odunewu, 57; Lukmon Laguda, 53, a resident of Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, and Isaac Adepoju of Oke-Ira, Ogba in Lagos.
They are facing charges of conspiracy, possession of dangerous weapons and breach of public peace.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, said the accused with 20 others still at large invaded a PDP inauguration venue with some dangerous weapons.
Ishaku said the offences were committed on October 14 at about 4.30 p.m. at Block 61, Flat 5, Ifako-Ijaiye Housing Estate, Pen Cinema, Agege.
He alleged that a man, Laguda Lukmon, who is still at large, mobilized the accused persons armed with broken bottles, stones, sticks and a substance suspected to be an acid harassed and threatened PDP members at the venue.
He said, “The PDP members and the complainant, Kehinde Koku, were holding meetings and inaugurating the state executive committee of the party at his residence.
“Suddenly, the accused persons invaded the venue of the inauguration, harassing and threatening the party members with some dangerous weapons.
“The party members fled the scene and reported the incident to the police which led to the arrest of the accused persons.”
The offences contravened Sections 166, 327 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The six accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.
Section 327 prescribes six months for unlawful possession of dangerous weapons, while Section 409 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr. J.A. Adegun, granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case to Nov. 4 for mention.
(NAN)
