A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of the immediate past National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua, the former Deputy National Chairman, Mr Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, and 11 others in Kuje jail.
The Inspector General of Police charged them with assaulting Comrade Wale Afolabi and Williams Akporeha, Augustine Egbon, General Secretary, National President of NUPENG, and the newly elected PTD national chairman, respectively, and two others.
Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison after their arraignment on a five-count criminal charge.
Those arraigned were 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 to the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) office at No. 50 Moses Majekodenmi 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.
“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 and 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.
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 him to file a final application. The court adjourned till November 21, for commencement of trial.