No fewer than 100 men were on Monday brought before a Yaba Chief magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

They were accused of setting vehicles ablaze and attempting to murder Lagos State taskforce officials.

Some of the defendants are Sunday Mopol, 31; Fendo Musa, 20; Monday Adamu, 49; Orji Chimaobi, 25; Nasiru Kamolu, 21; Abdullahi Yahaya, 30; and 94 others.

The defendants were charged on three separate counts bordering on conspiracy, willful damage and attempted murder. They, however, pleaded not guilty.

The police prosecutor, Idowu Osungbure, told the court the defendants committed the offence at noon on December 7, in the 7th Avenue area of Festac Town, Lagos.

According to him, the Lagos task force, in conjunction with the police, was on a raid on illegal motorcycle riders in Festac and confiscating some motorcycles.

He said that the motorcycle riders began to attack the officials and set their white Fiat bus with registration number EPF 75 GR on fire.

Mr Osungbure told the court that the defendants also set two Vanagon Volkswagen buses belonging to other people ablaze.

The offence contravenes Sections 411, 350 and 230 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised), with Section 230 prescribing life imprisonment for attempted murder.

The Magistrate, Olatunbosun Adeola, granted the one hundred defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

Mrs Adeola said that the sureties must be gainfully employed, have landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state.

She further directed that they must all have their addresses verified by the court, and adjourned the case until February 9, 2022, for mention.

(NAN)