Justice Yusuf Halilu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama, Abuja, Friday, ordered the remand of 13 members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), at the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja.
Their remand followed their arraignment in court by the Inspector General of Police on a five count charge bordering on breach of peace and acting in a manner that would likely cause death of Comrade Wiliams Akporeha & Comrade Augustine Egbon.
Specifically, they were alleged to have attacked the National President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha, General Secretary, Wale Afolabi and the newly elected National Chairman of the PTD-NUPENG, Augustine Egbon.
The defendants, who are to remain in prison till next week pending the hearing of their bail application included a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua; his Deputy, Mr. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka and Tiamiu Sikiru.
The rest were Abdulmimin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha.
Some of the counts, in the charge marked: CR/042/2023 read: “That you Lucky Osesua, Humble Obinna, Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmumin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha on the 1st of November, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to cause breach of peace, laid siege at the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) office at No. 50 Moses Majekodenmi Crescent , Utako District against one Comrade Williams Akporeha, Comrade Olawale Afolabi, Comrade Solomon Kilanko & Comrade Augustine Egbon and you thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
In count three, they were alleged to have acted, “In a manner likely to cause the death of one Comrade Wiliams Akporeha & Comrade Augustine Egbon”, an offence punishable under Section 229 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
Also, in count four, they were accused of voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm to Comrade Williams Akporeha, Comrade Olawale Afolabi, Comrade Solomon Kilanko & Comrade Augustine Egbon.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges read against them, after which prosecution counsel, Frank Longe, applied for a date to begin their trial.
However, lead counsel to the defendants, Chris Oshomogie, SAN, orally moved the bail application of the defendants which was opposed by the police lawyer.
Responding, Justice Halilu, who assured all parties of delivering justice in the case, rejected the oral bail application, directing Oshomogie to file and serve the prosecution with a written bail application.
The judge, besides assured of expedited hearing and adjourned till November 21, for trial.
