Court Grants Bail To 3 Alleged Illegal Tax Collectors in Kogi, Fixes 11th December, 2024 For Hearing.
… Accused of mounting illegal roadblock, extortion, conspiracy, impersonation
A Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has granted bail to 3 accused persons standing trial for mounting illegal roadblock, criminal conspiracy,
Impersonation and
Illegal collection of Revenue.
The three accused persons are Abbah Emmanuel, Umar Abubakar, Kingsley Danasabe were arrested by a Vigilante group, however pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them in the First Information Report.
The three accused persons where said to on the 13th November, 2024 arrested along Federal University Lokoja, in Felele, accused of illegally extorting money from motorists.
Delivering his Judgement, the Senior Magistrate, Court 1, Abdullahi Musa Mopa, granted the accused persons bail to the tune of N400,000 and two surety in like some.
He added that the surety must have traceable addresses within Lokoja, and Public servants within grade Level 14 and serving in reputable institutions in the State. The bail condition also includes that the surety must produce their BVN, Bank Account and details of NIM.
The Magistrate however adjoined the matter till 11th December, 2024 for further mention.
Mauzu .A. Abbas, Counsel for the
defendants had pleaded no objection submission for mention and hearing of the matter, however cited Section 36(5) of the constitution as amended as well as Section 156 of the Kogi State administration of criminal justice law 2017, that the defendants having been in custody since 13th November, urged the Magistrate to exercise discretion in favor of the defendants to bail .
In his response, Mr. Gabriel Otowu for the Prosecution however did not object to the bail but urged for caution, urged for a date for further mention and commencement of the Matter.
Recalled that it is an offense to mount illegal road blocks in Kogi State, contravenes the laws of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
