By Noah Peters
A Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has granted bail to three accused persons standing trial for mounting illegal roadblock, criminal conspiracy,
Impersonation and
Illegal collection of Revenue.
The three accused persons are Abbah Emmanuel, Umar Abubakar and Kingsley Dansebe who were arrested by a Vigilante group, however pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them in the First Information Report.
The three accused persons where said to on the thirtieth of this month arrested along Federal University Lokoja, in Felele and accused of illegally extorting money from motorists.
Mounting of illegal road blocks in Kogi State, contravene the laws of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
Delivering his Judgement, the Senior Magistrate, Court 1, Abdullahi Musa Mopa, granted the accused persons bail to the sum of N400,000 and two surety in like sum.
He warned that the surety must have traceable addresses within Lokoja, and must be a Public servants within grade Level 14 and serving in reputable institutions in the State.
The bail condition also includes that the surety must produce their BVN, Bank Account and details of NIN.
The Magistrate however adjourned the matter till 11th December, 2024 for further mention.
Counsel for the defendants, Mauzu .A. Abbas who had pleaded no objection submission for mention and hearing of the matter, however cited Section 36(5) of the constitution as amended as well as Section 156 of the Kogi State administration of criminal justice law 2017, that the defendants having been in custody since 13th November, pleaded the Magistrate to exercise discretion in favor of the defendant’s to bail .
In his response, Mr. Gabriel Otowu for the Prosecution however did not object to the bail but urged the court with caution, for a date for further mention and commencement of the Matter.
Speaking with our reporter on the matter, the Head of Department legal office in the Kogi State Revenue Service, Barrister G.S Attah said the mounting of roadblock by suspected impersonators become a recurring decimal, adding that the arrest will serve as deterent to others.
