The police in Lagos, on Thursday, charged five defendants before the state’s division of the Federal High Court over alleged possession of firearms and offering money to officers to evade arrest.

The defendants are Esther Newman, a.k.a. Candy, Miracle Obiekezie, Oyetunde Olamide, Esther Akere, and Okey Okebalam.

The police charged them with conspiracy, inducement to police to restrain arrest, dealing in drugs, and possession of live ammunition and AK-47 firearms.

They appeared before Justice Ibrahim Kala on a five-count charge preferred against them by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti.

On Thursday, Julio Hodonu appeared for the prosecution, while I.O Antia appeared for the fourth and fifth defendants. The first to third defendants had no counsel.

The prosecutor applied for the charge to be read to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in custody and sought a trial date, adding that the proof of evidence is before the court.

In response, counsel to the fourth and fifth defendants informed the court of a bail application for his clients while the prosecution confirmed receipt of the process. The prosecution did not oppose bail.

In his ruling, the judge granted the defendants N10 million bail each with two sureties in like sum.

The judge ruled that one of the sureties must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and the other a grade-level 16 officer.

He ordered that the prosecution verify the property documents with the deputy chief registrar of the court.

The court ordered the fourth and fifth defendants to be remanded until the perfection of their bail.

However, the first to third defendants not on bail will be remanded in custody until the next adjourned trial date.

He adjourned the trial until March 20.

The defendants were alleged to have conspired with others at large to commit the offence on February 6, 2024, in the Ilogbo Elegba area of Lagos.

They were accused of trying to bribe police officers with N5 million, including a 32-inch LG television valued at N225,000 and a refrigerator worth N150,000, all with the intent to evade arrest and prosecution for drug-related offences.

The defendants were also accused of unlawfully buying, selling, and exposing for sale sachets of 0.15 g of Methamphetamine (ice), a Psychoactive stimulant, and 60mls of Tetrahydrocannabinol Marijuana drugs.

They were said to have in their possessions two rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm ammunition being ammunition of Avitomat Kalashnikova (AK-47) for which they could not give a satisfactory account.

The offence contravenes section 428(d) and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004, section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, Law of the Federation, section 15 (a)(iii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

(NAN)