The police on Wednesday dragged seven people before an Isabo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, over alleged arson.

The defendants are Musiliu Akinsanya, 53; Nurudeen Ogunlaja, 47; Olasoju Johnson, 40; Tunde Solanke, 41; Jimoh Ogunlaja, 45; Kabiru Shobola, 38; and Mathew Akinsanya, 32.

They are standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on arson and damage to property.

They were accused of setting fire to a complainant’s car.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, ASP Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 16, at Iporo, Shopeyin village, in the Owode Obafemi Local Government Area of Abeokuta.

He alleged that the defendants conspired to willfully set ablaze a Nissan Vanette C20 car valued at N18 million belonging to the complainant, Ebenezer David.

The prosecutor alleged that the incident occurred following a dispute arising from an alleged love affair between the complainant and the wife of the fourth defendant (Solanke).

According to the prosecutor, the fourth defendant alleged that the complainant impregnated his wife, which prompted him and other defendants to set his car ablaze

Mr Olu-Balogun also alleged that the complainant claimed he had been receiving death threats from the fourth defendant which made him relocate to another community for safety with his family. 

He added that after the incident, the complainant reported the matter to the police which led to the arrest of the defendants

The offences contravene the provisions of sections 443, 516 of the Criminal Law of Ogun State 2006.

The Chief Magistrate, A.K. Araba, granted defendants bail in the sum of two million naira each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Ms Araba ordered that the sureties must be bondsmen registered with the Ogun State Judiciary.

She adjourned the case until August 3, for hearing.

(NAN)