Police Arraign Self-Enthroned Baale For Contempt, Breach of Peace
A self-acclaimed Community Head, Taofeek Mojeed, has been arraigned before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, contempt of court, land grabbing and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
The 52 years old man was charged before the court by the men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, in a charge marked A/05/2020.
In the charge, the police alleged that the defendant and others now at large, allegedly committed the offences between 2017 and 2019, at Owu Ikosi,near Agbowa, Lagos.
In the charge, the defendant and others said to be at large, were also alleged to have forcibly take possession of large expanse of land without a claim of right and hold same in a manner that will cause a reasonable apprehension of breach of peace against people of lmope Village, Owu Ikosi, Near Agbowa, lkosi/Ejirin Local Government, Lagos State, who are entitled by law to possession of the land.
He was also alleged to have to disobeyed a court order delivered on August 29, 2019, by Chief Magistrate O. O. Olatunji, by forcibly entered the land and unlawfully sell same.
Apart from accusing him of selling the land that belongs to another persons, he was also alleged to have stalled himself as Baale of Imope, despite an order pf the court that restrained him from such act.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Morufu A. Animashaun, the ForceCIID’s Legal Officer, are contrary to and punishae under sections 411, 52, 53, 104(1)(I) and 168(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Following the defendant’s not guilty plea, his lawyer, Samuel Sodipo, urged the court to admit hi to bail in the most liberal term, as he was a first time offender and that the charges against him were bailable ones.
Responding, the prosecutor, Animashaun, told the court that though, granting bail is at the court’s discretion. But added that if the court is mindful of granting the application, the terms to be given must be the ones that will ensure that the defendant attends court till the charge is decided.
After listened to the submissions of parties, Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two reliable sureties.
The sureties the Chief Magistrate ordered must be gainfully employed with three years tax paid to the Lagos State government and have their addresses verified by the prosecutor.
The Chief Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services, pending the perfection of the bail terms.
The matter has Bee adjourned till February 13, for mention.