Photo credit: Google – Abubakar Usman.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Thirty-one suspects including a Chinese arrested for railway vandalisation will be rearraigned at the Federal High Court Lafia, Nasarawa State, today, Friday, 23rd July.
It would be their fourth appearance in Court.
Justice Nehizena Afolabi, declined bail application filed by the defendants’ counsel, Barr. Innocent Lagi, during three previous appearances and adjourned the case to Friday 23rd July.
The police charged the suspects to court on June 23 and they were ordered to be remanded in custody.
Channels TV reported that the suspects are facing a-seven count charge including conspiracy, economic sabotage and terrorism.
The Dune reported that the suspects were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping unit of the Nasarawa state police command in a discreet, anti-vandalism operations.
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The police said the suspects are members of a syndicate vandalising railway slippers along the Plateau-Nasarawa- Benue railway.
Among the suspects to be rearraigned in court is a Chinese, Messr Mara Thai, manager of Young Xing Steel Company, located at Tungan Ma Je, Abuja; Mr. Yusuf Abubakar Musa, Special Assistant on Infrastructure to Nasarawa State Governor, and one Mohammed Isiaka, a former supervisor for education from Nasarawa Eggon local government.
The other suspects include a staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, the legal adviser to Yong Xing Steel Company who reportedly offered N600,000 bribe to police officer to secure the release of the Chinese arrested in connection with the case.
The police prosecutor, Bale Nimnan, said in the Court on July 7, that the police will not treat the case with any iota of laxity.
Meanwhile, the police in Nasarawa State command had arrested another set of railway vandals during the week.
Police towing a vehicle loaded with vandalised railway slippers from Agyaragu Tasha community.
Railway slippers and oxygen gas cylinder inside the vehicle impounded from vandals by the Anti-Kidnapping unit of Nasarawa State Police command in Agyaragu Tasha community.
Our news sources in the suspects were arrested in Agyaragu Tasha in Lafia local government area following a call to the police by members of the community.
The news sources said the community helped police to arrange a towing truck to evacuate the vehicle where the suspects loaded railway slippers stolen from the community.
However, the police are yet to issue a statement on the arrest of the new set of suspects.
