A magistrate court judge in Lagos State has granted bail to six supporters of the African Action Congress (AAC).
The Lagos State police command arrested six supporters of the presidential candidate of the AAC, Omoyele Sowore, at the weekend, for allegedly removing the campaign materials of a political party and replacing them with those of AAC.
At the ruling, the six AAC supporters pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge levelled against them; which are – “conspiracy to commit felony to with criminal damage to property, criminal damage to property of Jimi Agbaje by tearing up his campaign posters on Awolowo House Fence and breach of peace by tearing campaign posters of other political parties and replacing them with AAC presidential campaign posters”.
The defence counsel, Taiwo Olawale, told the court that the members of the AAC were only pasting posters at night.
Mr Oladele said because the party is not a major party, the police is using the instrument of the state to harass them.
Objecting, representative of the commissioner of police, D. Raphael, told the magistrate that the suspects where indeed caught in a criminal act, “which will be determined in trial.”
The judge, in her response, after hearing statements from both the prosecuting and defence counsels, said the offence was a bailable one.
“This court is not ready for any trial. This is a bailable offence. I hereby grant bail in the sum of fifty thousand naira each, with one responsible surety”.
Hearing was adjourned to February 4.
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