Lagos—A total of 177 persons have so far been arraigned before three different magistrate courts sitting in Ikeja in connection with the March 3, 2016 riot that broke in the popular Mile 12 market, Kosofe local government area of Lagos state.
This was coming as the Lagos State government took over the prosecution of all the suspects arrested. The Assistant Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Jide Martins, who announced this yesterday before Magistrate Y.O. Aje-Afunwa in one of the court said the state government is ready to take over the trial. Twenty eight new set of suspects were arraigned before Magistrate (Mrs) Y.O. Aje-Afunwa in one of the courts. Martins made the announcement after Police Prosecutor, Erin Enormous, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), had arraigned the suspects and the court registrar had read out the charges through an interpreter. As at yesterday, a total of 177 have been arraigned before three magistrate courts sitting in Ikeja, inclusive 89 that were arraigned on Wednesday. The other two magistrates handling the cases are Mrs. A.O. Layinka and Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi. All the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the two count charge of conspiracy “to commit felony to wit: riot and thereby committed offense punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011” preffered against them. Ruling on the matter, Magistrate (Mrs.) Aje-Afunwa said since the offense are bailable, the defendants are entitled to bail. She subsequently granted each of them bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in the like sum. She further ordered that the sureties must present evidence of tax payment which must be verified with state Inland Revenue office and visible place of residence which address must also be verified. She thereafter adjourned the matter to May 27, 2016.
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