Encomium
Eight street traders arrested in connection with the protest which saw the destruction 48 BRT buses worth N139 million, arraigned at Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday July 12, 2016, have been granted bail of N1 milion each.
The violent protest erupted on Wednesday, June, 29 2016, after the killing of 22-year-old hawker, John Nnamdi, by a truck belonging to a soft drink company while fleeing from the officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).
According to a report by Punch,the suspects — Agu Israel (18), Idike Sylvester (23), Babizua Nwode (31), Ropo Babatunde (19), Anashi Philip (26), Ezekiel Ebonyi (21), Friday Nweze (19) and John Kalu (17) — were arraigned on Tuesday on three counts of wilful damage and conduct likely to cause breach of the public peace.
The charge read in part states : “That you, Agu Israel, Idike Sylvester, Babizua Nwode, Ropo Babatunde, Anashi Philip, Ezekiel Ebonyi, FridayNweze, John Kalu and others at large, on June 29 2016, at about 2.30pm on Ikorodu Road, Anthony Bus stop, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did wilfully and unlawfully damaged 48 BRT buses, property of Primero Transport Services Limited.”
According to the police prosecutor, Sergeant Mariam Dauda, the offences were punishable under sections 409, 349 and 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.
The Magistrate, O.O. A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, granted them bail in the sum of N1m each with two responsible sureties each in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a relation of the defendants.
The case was adjourned till August 17, 2016.
According to the report, the eight suspects who were arrested by the police after an angry mob blocked the road and vandalised BRT vehicles following the death of John, have been under the custody of the State Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba.
