130 Shiite members docked before Magistrates’ Court for rioting
The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday arraigned 130 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) before a Wuse District Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on criminal count charge over their alleged involvement in public disturbance and rioting.
The Shiite members were however admitted to bail in various sums ranging from N50, 000 to N500, 000.
In the First Information Report (FIR) read at the Magistrate, the defendants were charged with Joint Act, Joining or continuing in unlawful Assembly knowing it has been commanded to disperse, disturbance of public peace, rioting and causing hurt, an offence the police said is contrary to section 79, 104, 113, 106 and 242 of the Penal Code.
According to the five-count charge, the defendants were said to have been involved in riotous act, disturbing public peace and blocking vehicular movement in different parts of the FCT and its environs on October 30, 2018.
The Police further alleged that the defendants who were gathered in large groups were ordered by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operation, FCT Police Command, ACP Valentine Olumesi, to disperse peacefully but that they refused and started throwing stones on the police officers and other members of the public, thereby causing them bodily harm.
But when the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Musa Yusuf, lawyer to 20 of the defendants arraigned before Mr. Lateef Abolaji of Court 17 of the FCT Magistrate Court, subsequently moved their bail application.
Though lawyer to the Police, Edwin Ochei, opposed the application, the trial Magistrate admitted the defendants to bail, stating that the offences allegedly committed were bailable.
He consequently admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000 each with a surety in like sum.
Other conditions attached to their bail include deposing to an affidavit to keep peace and be of good behaviour.
The court added that the sureties must also be residents of Abuja with verifiable office and residential addresses. In addition, they are to deposit either their national identity cards, drivers’ licence or international passport with the court.
The matter has been adjourned till December 5, 2018 following an agreement of lawyers to the parties.
Similarly, a batch of 35 members of the IMN arraigned before Magistrate Njideka Duru of Court 11 were admitted to bail in the same sum of N50, 000 each with 2 sureties in like sum.
But while those arraigned before Magistrate Musa Jibo of Court 15 were admitted to bail in the sum of N200,000 each and 2 sureties in like sum, those arraigned before Justice Elizabeth Jones-Woni were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each.
The Daily Times recalls that thousands of Shiite protesters had besieged the FCT and environs last week Saturday, Monday and Tuesday this week calling on the Federal Government to free their leader, Sheik El-Zakzaky, who alongside his wife are being held by the Federal Government since 2015.
But scores of the protesters were however said to have lost their lives in the three-day protest, following their violent confrontation with the security agencies along major routes leading into Abuja.
