John Kennedy, 41, charged for land grabbing

John Kennedy, 41, has been arraigned for land grabbing in Lagos by the FCIID

A 41-year old, John Kennedy, was on Tuesday arraigned by men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on land grabbing and unlawful damages.

The police alleged in charge number C/13/18, that the accused person had sometimes in 2013, illegally occupied a landed belonging to one Alhaji Jubril Okelewu, by chasing away the lawful occupant of the land.

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He was also alleged to have in the course of unlawfully occupying the said land, demolished its perimeter fence valued N12 million.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to sections 4 and 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011, and punishable under section 5 of the same Act.

The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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Following the accused, the prosecutor, Animashaun, urged the court to remand him in prison custody, pending trial.

However, lawyer to the accused, Mr. Okey Nwafor Okonkwo, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

Okey told the court that his client is prepared to face the trial, and that he will not interfere with the witness.

Following the plea of accused person’s lawyer, the presiding Magistrate, Abimbola Komolafe, admired bail to the accused in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum, and who are gainful employed.

The magistrate also ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the accused, and that the two sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state government, mean of livelihood, and that all the documents tendered must be verified by the prosecutor.

The magistrate also while adjourning the matter till April 10, for trial, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, pending the perfection of the bail conditions.