Alleged assault: Court remands 13 NUPENG ex-leaders in Kuje prison

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the remand of the immediate past National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua, erstwhile Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga and 11 others in Kuje prison for allegedly assaulting Comrade Wale Afolabi and
Williams Akporeha,
Augustine Egbon, General Secretary, National President of NUPENG and the newly elected PTD national chairman, respectively and two others .

Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that the 13 defendants be remanded in prison after their arraignment on a five count criminal charge.

They were put on trial by the Inspector General of Police for the alleged assault of the two NUPENG chief and the national chairman of the PTD Branch of NUPENG.

Those arraigned are : 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 are 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 reads:

“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.

“Count three: 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, did act in a manner likely to cause the death of one Comrade Wiliams Akporeha & Comrade Augustine Egbon and you thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 229 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

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 however pleaded not guilty to the charges after which prosecution counsel, Frank Longe, applied for a date to begin their trial.

Lead counsel to the defendants, Chris Oshomogie, SAN, orally applied for the bail of his clients claiming that the offences they allegedly Committed are bail-able.

The court however rejected the oral bail application and asked him to file a final application.

The Court adjourned till November 21, for commencement of trial.