A gang, said to be numbering seven, on Friday engaged a police team in a show of strength in the Marine Beach, Ijora Badia area of Lagos after one of their members, identified simply as Frank, was arrested.
The team, which was reportedly led by one Inspector Peter Oghogho, had come from the Ijora Police Division around 12pm on the fateful day to bust a joint used by some hoodlums.
It was learnt that the gang attacked the policemen and wrestled Frank from them.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the gang tore the dress of one Inspector James Omotayo, who was also part of the team.
Our correspondent learnt further that the mob fled the scene after they had succeeded in freeing the suspect.
However, two of them – Sylvester Oche, 32, and 54-year-old Anthony Giobogunwre – were eventually apprehended by the cops.
The police said they were still on the trail of other fleeing members of the gang.
A prosecutor, John Iberebe, on Monday arraigned the two suspects before a magistrate, Mr. G. L. Hotepo, on three counts bordering on assault.
The charges read in part, “That you, Sylvester Oche, and Anthony Giobogunwre, and others now at large, on March 6, 2015, at about 12.15pm, in the Marine Beach, Ijora Badia, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault Inspector James Omotayo attached to the divisional headquarters, Ijora Badia, by tearing his shirt while in the course of his lawful duty.
“That you, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did resist arrest by refusing to follow Inspector Peter Oghogho and his team while in the discharge of their lawful duty.
“That you, and others now at large, obstructed the team and aided the escape of one Frank from the policemen.”
According to the police, the offences – to which the defendants pleaded not guilty – are contrary to and punishable under sections 172 (B), 117 and 112 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
Hotepo admitted them to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties were also asked to present documents showing three years of tax payment and proof of means of livelihood to the court for verification before the defendants’ bail could be perfected.
The case was adjourned till March 30, 2015 for mention.
Copyright PUNCH.
