The Lagos State Government has prosecuted 39 out of 68 arrested notorious miscreants and hoodlums by security operatives during the fracas at Idi-oro area of Mushin on Monday.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that the 39 prosecuted miscreants and hoodlums were youths leaders and gang members from Alamutu Street and Akala Elegba boys.
Egbeyemi disclosed further that they engaged themselves in a free for all fracas that resulted into loss of lives with serious looting of valuable properties of innocent traders, which included several food items like bags of rice, beans, palm oil, banana and burning of houses/shops around Idi-Oro.
The chairman stated that dangerous weapons recovered by security agencies during the fracas included machetes, axe, rods, cutlases, charms and six full bags of weed suspected to be indian hemp.
Egbeyemi informed that huge investments in both infrastructural development and security apparatus across the State by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration is meant to provide a peaceful environment devoid of any criminal activities.
He urged parents and guidance to always monitor activities of their wards as the government would not spare anyone or group of persons caught breaching the peace being enjoyed by the citizens across the nooks and crannies of the State.
He however confirmed that after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, was well briefed about these 39 arrested notorious miscreants and hoodlums he directed that they all be charged to court.
Out of a total of 68 arrested notorious miscreants and hoodlums at the scene, 29 who do not have direct connections to the fracas were properly screened and released, leaving 39 to be prosecuted at the court.
Meanwhile the remaining 39 notorious miscreants and hoodlums were charged on four counts at the Lagos State Mobile Court for breach of peace, unlawful possession of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, obstructing security officers while discharging their lawful duties and roaming around streets without legitimate livelihood/homes.
Magistrate Tosin Ojuromi, who presided over at the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi, sentenced 15 persons who pleaded guilty out of the 39 accused to between six months and two years imprisonment with option of fine ranging from N150,000 to N200,000.
Sixteen accused persons, who pleaded not guilty, were granted bail with two sureties (40 years above) of like sum of N250,000 each, evidence of three years tax clearance and must deposit N50,000 with the Lagos State Government.
While the remaining eight of the accused persons were further discharged and acquitted by the court after proper identification, those who pleaded not guilty had their cases adjourned till May 25, 2017 for commencement of trials.
The Registrar of the Lagos State Mobile Court, Ibrahim Oseni, disclosed after the court proceedings that the Lagos State Government provided free legal services for all the accused persons through Barrister Abdulsalam Bashir from the Office of Public Defenders.
The court further pronounced that the recovered six full bags of weed suspected to be Indian hemp be immediately destroyed in public glare.
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