Two developers, Lukman Kadiri, 55 and Anthony Folarin, 54, were today arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a seven count-charges of conspiracy, false information, threat to life, conduct likely to breach peace of public peace, illegal conversion and fraud.
The two developers were arraigned before Magistrate Y. O. Aro-Lambo on the alleged offences by men of the Federal Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The police in a charge marked F/70/2018, alleged that the two defendants on April 13, 2018, at Abdulmalik Chambers, 13, Calcutta Crescent, Apapa, Lagos, and at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba, conspired and accused the duo of Mrs. Precious Ikedia and Mr. Sanni Saibu Arewa, of forgery, illegal conversion and threat to life.
Police alleged that the false information made against Mrs. Ikedia and Mr. Arewa, by the two developers at the SCIID, Panti-Lagos, led to the arrest and arraignment of Ikedia and Arewa on charges bordering on forgery, illegal conversion and threat to life.
The two defendants were also accused of threatening the life of Mrs. Ikedia and Arewa. They were also said to have on February 7, 2013, fraudulently received the sum of N320, 000. from one Mrs. Joy Smart, under false pretence of subletting a room and parlour self-contained to her.
The offences against the two developers according to the police are contrary to and punishable under sections 94, 95(1)(b)(c), 168(1), 412, 96(b), 56(1)(a) and 314(a)(b) and 314(3).
The two defendants however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Williams Tijani, asked the court for a trial date. He also asked the court to remand the defendants in prison custody, pending trial.
Responding, lawyer to the defendants, L. O. Ederowaye, pleaded with the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms.
He told the court that the defendants are presumed innocent of the charge until the case is decided against them and that the allegations against them are bailable ones.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Aro-Lambo admitted each of the accuse person to bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in the like sum.
Magistrate Aro-Lambo also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government, with means of livelihood, and have their addresses verified by the prosecution.
Upon the consensus of the prosecutor , lawyer to defendants and lawyers to the complainants, Prince Chinoso Chijioke, the presiding magistrate, Mr. Aro-Lambo adjourned the matter till November 16, for trial, while ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending fulfilment of the bail conditions.
