A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the remand 13 members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers NUPENG in Kuje prison, Abuja for alleged attempted murder of the National President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha and two others.
The 13 defendants were on Friday evening ordered to be remanded in prison by Justice Yusuf Halilu after their arraignment on a five count criminal charge.
They were put on trial by the Inspector General of Police IGP for allegedly beating up NUPENG’s President, General Secretary, Wale Afolabi and the newly elected National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) of NUPENG, Augustine Egbon.
Those arraigned are a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua; his Deputy, 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: FCT/ HC/CR/042/2023 reads:
*That you Lucky Osesua, Humble Obinna, Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmimin 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 Majekodunmi 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, Abdulmimin 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.
On 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.
However, 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 .
However, the Court rejected the oral bail application and ordered him to file a final application and adjourned till November 21, for trial
Justice Yusuf ordered that the 13 defendants be moved to Kuje prison in Abuja on remand pending the determination of their request for bai