Eleven men, charged with an attempt to kill a man by stabbing him with cutlass on his body, were on Wednesday in Lagos brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The defendants are: Rasheed Keshiro, 19; Qudri Fatal, 19; Monroof Ibikunle, 18; Taiwo Rabiu, 19; Morounfolu Yusuf, 19; Lawal Monjeed, 18; Daniel Elebute, 20; and Bode Popoola, 18.
Others are: Ismail Alabi, 18; Osehemeh Aimiagbo, 23; and Michael Oyeromi, 18.
They are being tried for conspiracy, unlawful society, assault and attempted murder.
The prosecutor, Inspector Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 3 at Oliyide Street, Mushin, Lagos.
He said the defendants, who belonged to an unlawful society, attacked the complainant, Munirudeen Mustapha, by inflicting injuries all over his body.
Koti said: “The complainant was coming from work when the defendants stabbed him with cutlasses, bottles and other dangerous weapons.
“When they saw blood gushing out of his body, they took to their heels.
“Few days after the complainant was discharged from the hospital, he sighted one of the defendants.
“He called the police and the defendant was arrested, the information he provided led to the arrest of others.”
The offences contravened Sections 56, 173, 230 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 173 carries three years imprisonment for assault while Section 230 attracts life imprisonment for attempted murder.
The defendants, who reside in different parts of Mushin, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, M.O. Tanimola, granted each of the defendants N100,000 bail and two sureties each in the like sum.
Tanimola said the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case until March 25 for mention.