13 SUSPECTED SMUGGLERS ARRAIGN OVER ALLEGED KIDNAP OF CUSTOMS OFFICER
The amended charge sheet number: MA/797C/2018, read before the Court by the Prosecution Counsel, Bar. Bale Nimnan (Esq), stated that the suspect, which included a woman were alleged to have committed the offence on the April 14, 2018 along the Ilo-Awela road near the Toll-Gate axis of Sango-Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area of the State.
Penpushing recalled that, earlier on August 5, 2018,the suspects had been arraigned before the Magistrate Court 1 and 2 presided over by Magistrate A.I. Adelaja on three counts charge in suit numbers: MA/347C/2018 and MA/559C/2018 but were granted bail.
The suspects included: Ojewale Abiodun, Idowu Ogundepo, Saheed Akanbi, Oladele Dayo, Raji Jamiu, Bankole Akeem, Sanni Saheed, Bukola Tosin, Akinola Hammed and Hassan Rofiat who were accused of being accomplices in the gun duel which occurred between the operatives and smugglers at the old Toll-Gate axis of Sango-Ota in April this year.
The Prosecutor told the court that the suspects said to be smugglers allegedly unleashed mayhem on the customs operatives which led to the abduction and kidnap of the victim, Abdul-Rasheed Salami, an Inspector of Customs.
Penpushing reports that, the court was told that, two vehicles belonging to the Customs Federal Operation Unit (FOU): a Toyota Hilux with registration number AP 80 CS and a Toyota Hummer bus marked AQ 74 CS were also destroyed during the fracas.
When the charges were read to the suspects they all, pleaded not guilty,but the Magistrate Titilayo Bello who presided over the case adjourned heari to December,18, 2018 for continuation of the matter.
