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 over alleged assault on General Secretary, Comrade Wale Afolabi; National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha; and the newly elected PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, and two others.

Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that the 13 defendants be remanded in prison after their arraignment on a 5-count charge.

The defendants were put on trial by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for allegedly assaulting two NUPENG chiefs and the national chairman of the PTD branch of NUPENG.

Those arraigned included 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 were 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 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, 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.

The defendants, 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 were bailable .

The court, however, rejected the oral bail application and asked the defendant counsel to file a final application.

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