Police arraign man who climbed telecom mast over poor economy

The police on Wednesday arraigned Iliyasu Lawal, 28; Nura Iliyasu, 29; and Idris Suleiman 28, in a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja for allegedly trespassing the premises of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The trio, who are residents of Kaduna State, were accused of attempts to commit suicide inside the presidential villa.

Augustine Urom, the prosecuting counsel, had averred that Lawal, on September 12 allegedly climbed a telecommunication mast within the presidential villa to commit suicide while the others watched.

Urom further told the court that the Department of State Service had transferred the defendants to the FCT Police Command on September 18.

He further averred that the defendants allegedly invaded the Aso Rock Villa with various protest placards capable of making the public to revolt against the Federal Government.

The prosecutor claimed the offences contravened Sections 79, 348, 114, 113 and 231 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the five counts of joint act, criminal trespass, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and attempt to commit suicide leveled against them.

Meanwhile, an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, yesterday remanded a 37-year-old man, Suleman Usman, in custody for allegedly sexually assaulting his two under-aged daughters.

The accused, who resides at No. 2, Balle St., in Apapa area, is standing trial for a two-count charge bordering on sexual assault.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Friday Mameh, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences sometime in May at his residence.

Mameh said the accused sexually assaulted his eight-year-old and five-year-old daughters.

“Usman on several occasions penetrated the vagina of his two daughters before his wife noticed it,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 261 and 263 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused pleaded not guilty. Mameh, however, urged the court to remand the accused pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Magistrate, Mrs. M. F. Onamusi, consequently remanded the accused in prison and asked that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the DPP’s office for legal advice. She adjourned the case until October 24 for mention.