Nigerian courts arraign individuals for theft and police assault

In separate legal proceedings in Nigeria, several individuals have been arraigned in court facing charges related to assault and theft.

In Lagos, seven men appeared before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. They face a three-count charge involving conspiracy, assault, and stealing. Prosecutors allege that on August 3, the defendants attacked and injured ASP Akeem Bello and other officers on duty at a Federal Government property. The group is also accused of stealing a motorcycle and a digital blood pressure system, with the total value of stolen items estimated at approximately N9.8 million. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and Magistrate Lateef Owolabi granted bail at N500,000 each.

In Abuja, a security guard named Markus Augustine and four scavengers were arraigned before the Dutse Senior Magistrates’ Court. They are charged with theft and receiving stolen property after allegedly stealing electrical cables worth N10.2 million from a building site in Kubwa. The prosecution claims Augustine confessed to selling the cables to the co-defendants. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and Senior Magistrate Yusuf Alkali admitted them to bail at N2 million each.