3 docked over illegal road block

April 22, 2017 12:04 PM

The suspects are being tried on a four-count charge of conspiracy, extortion, obstruction in public way and failure to give information to public servant.

Court gavel

Three persons on Friday appeared before a Minna Magistrate’s Court for allegedly mounting an illegal road block.

The accused are Abubakar Mohammed, 25; Masaud Babangida, 45, and Abubakar Mohammed, 38.

They are being tried on a four-count charge of conspiracy, extortion, obstruction in public way or line of navigation and failure to give information to public servant.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Danladi, told the court that police operatives arrested and brought the accused persons to the station on April 20.

Danladi alleged the accused had mounted a road block along Kuta road by Central garage junction in Minna and extorted money from motorists under the pretext of issuing Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association tickets.

He said the offences contravened sections 97, 293, 197 and 138 of the Penal Code Law.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate,‎ Mr Mohammed Hassan, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each.

He also ordered that they must each produce a surety in like sum, adding that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

Hassan adjourned the case till May 18, for further mention.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, recently ordered for the dismantling of all illegal road blocks in the country.