Police arraign 21 protesters for damaging train station

Twenty one people have been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly damaging a building of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

The defendants were Ahmed Jimoh (32), Sunday Peter (15), Saheed Balogun (30), Felix Asemota (30), Segun Samson (21), Tosin Samson (35), Achor Uche(20), Obineri Ebuka (26), Samuel Obawon-Oba(20), Sunday Ugheruba (42), Marcel Nwagbara (42), Felis Iteghi (26), Adebayo Waheed (30), Musa Kalam (23), Michael Olamide (24), Jonathan Ugoche (38), Nwaoba Promise (25) and Lucky Akpanpa (30), Idris Abidemi (21), Sanya Oyeleke (25), Alis Fatoku(19).

The police said the suspects were arrested on June 10, around Nigeria Railway Corporation, Agbado Station, protesting the hike in train fares.

The protest, which turned violent, led to the destruction of some property of the NRC.

Some touts, who joined in the protest, were said to have also looted the station, stealing N358,980 and cash tanks valued at N199, 000.

The police said the mob action was unlawful, and disturbed the peace of the community.

The 21 suspects were arraigned on three counts of unlawful assembly, stealing and unlawful damage.

The charges read in part, “That you (suspects’ names) and others at large on June 10, 2014 at about 7.25am at Railway Station, Agbado Station, did unlawfully assemble together, acted in a disorderly manner and disturbed the peace of the community.

“That you and others at large, did willfully and unlawfully damage railway building by breaking all the doors and windows.”

The police prosecutor, Adams Cousin, said the offences were punishable under sections 45, 258 and 349 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.

The Magistrate, Mr. O.A. Komolafe, admitted them to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till June 30, 2014.