A 54 year-old lawyer, Segun Aderele, was today, arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, by men of the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, felony, land grabbing and unlawful and forcible entry into another man’s landed property and conduct likely to breach of public peace.
Arraigned alongside the lawyer, is a 65 year-old man, Ashimiu Korede.
FCIID in a charge marked B/41/2018, alleged that the two defendants and others now at large, between 2002 and 2018, at Bogije Town, in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos, conspired among themselves, forcibly and unlawfully entered into the land which was in actual and peaceable possession of lwajoba Chieftaincy family of lbelu-Lekki.
The two defendants were also alleged to have on the same date, time and place used force and hoodlums to take over the said land.
They were also alleged to have cause breach of public peace by encroaching on the land at Iwajowa family, with the assistance of hoodlums.
The offences according to the Prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 52, 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015, and sections 2(3), 7 and 3 (3)(b), (4)(a)(b)(1)of the Properties Protection Law of Lagos State, 2016.
The two defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
With their plea of not guilty, their lawyers, S. O. Isanume and Samuel Meadol, pleaded with the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms, as the charges against them are bailable.
The defendants’ lawyers, particularly told the court to admit the second defendant, Aderele, to bail on self-recognition, as a legal practitioner.
The Prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, told the court that granting bail to defendant is at court’s discretion.
Following the pleas of the defendants’ lawyers and the submission of the prosecutor, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Afolashade Botoku, admitted bail to the lawyer on self-recognition.
The Chief magistrate however, admitted the first defendant, Korede, to bail in the sum of N250, 000, with two sureties in the like sum.
The sureties, according to the Chief Magistrate, are to file evidence livelihood, three years tax payable to Lagos state government, and have their addresses verified by the prosecutor.
Chief Magistrate Botoku, while adjourning the matter till June 26, for trial, ordered that the first defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending the fulfillment of the bail term.
Count one of the charge against the defendants read, “that you Ashimlyu Korede ‘m’, Segun Adereie Esq, others at large between 2002 and 2018 at lbeju-Lekkl Area via Bogije Town, Logo: in lbeju-Lekki Local Government area of Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forcibie entry and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015
Count three reads, “that you Ashlmiyu Korede ‘m’. Segun Aderele Esq and others at large between 2002 and 2018 at lbeju-Lekki Area via Bagije Town, Lagos In ibeJu-Lekki local Government area of Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District did use force to take over lwajoba Family Land and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(3) of the Properties Protection Law of Lagos State, 2016.
Count four reads, “that you Ashimiyu Korede ‘m , Segun Aderele Esq and others at large between 2002 and mm at lbeju-Lekki Area via Bogije Town Lagos in ibeju-Lekki Local Government area of Lagos state in the Logos Magisterial District did use force to take over lwajoba Family land and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 (3) (b) (4) (a)(b) (1) of the Properties Protection Law of Lagos State, 2016.
And count six reads, “that you Ashimiyu Korede ‘m‘. Segun Aderele, Esq and other at large between 2002 and 2018 at lbeiu-Lekki 3‘ Area via Bogije Town, Lagos in Ibeju-Lekkl Local Government area at Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by encroaching onto the land at Iwajowa family with hoodlum and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015”.
