Men of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, arraigned three men before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly invade property of a limited liability company, Cosmopolitian Properties Limited  

The three accused persons arraigned before Chief Magistrate (Mrs.) Abimbola Komolafe, are: Alhaji Kazeem Salami, 50, abdulsalam Sulaimon 47, and Babatunde Tajudeen Falana, 62.

The three accused persons and others now at large, according to the prosecutor, Gladys Imegu, a Superintendent of Police, between the month of August and December 2016, conspired among themselves and invaded the company’s property located near Business School, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah.

SP Imegu also informed the court that the accused persons, in the court of unlawful invasion of the company’s property, wilfully and unlawfully destroyed and demolished the perimeter fence and gate of the company.

She told the court that the cost of the destroyer and damaged fence and gate is N1.975, 400 million.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 411 and 340 of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011.

The prosecutor also told the court that the offence contravened Section 4 of the Properties Protection Laws of Lagos state, 2016, and punishable under Section 5 of the same Laws.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts of the charge.

Upon the plea of the accused persons, their lawyer, Kemi Omotosho, pleaded with the court to admit her clients bail in the most liberal terms.

The lawyer to the accused told the court that her clients have creditable sureties, and that they will always attend trial.  

Upon the argument of the bail applications of the accused persons, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Komolafe, admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000.00, with two sureties in the like sums.

The presiding magistrate also ordered that each of the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos state government, and have their addresses and means of livelihood verified by the prosecutor.

The magistrate while adjourned the matter till March 6, for commencement of trial, ordered that the accused persons be remanded pending the perfection of the bail terms.