THE High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered that 13 members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) be remanded in Kuje prison over alleged attempted murder of the national president of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, and two others.
This decision was made by Justice Yusuf Halilu after the 13 defendants were arraigned on a five-count criminal charge. They were put on trial by the Inspector General of Police for allegedly assaulting Akporeha, Wale Afolabi, and Augustine Egbon, NUPENG’s president, general secretary, and the newly elected national chairman of PTD, respectively.
The defendants include former national chairman of PTD, Lucky Osesua, his deputy, Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmimin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku, and Sunday Ezeocha.
According to the case marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, the defendants allegedly laid siege at the PTD office and committed offenses punishable under the Penal Code Act, 2004. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution counsel, Frank Longe, applied for a trial date.
The lead counsel to the defendants, Chris Oshomogie, SAN, orally applied for bail, but the court rejected the application, ordering the defendants to be moved to Kuje prison pending the determination of their request for bail. The trial has been adjourned until November 21.
