Police arraign man who climbed telecom mast to protest poor economy

The police have arraigned Iliyasu Lawal (pictured), Nura Iliyasu and Idris Suleiman at a magistrates’ court, Wuse zone 2, federal capital territory, for allegedly trespassing the premises of the presidential villa.

According to NAN, the trio, who are residents of Kaduna state, were accused of attempted suicide inside the presidential villa.

Augustine Urom, prosecuting counsel, had said Lawal, on September 12, climbed an MTN telecommunication mast within the presidential villa to commit suicide while the others watched.

Urom told the court that the Department of State Service (DSS) had transferred the defendants to the FCT police command on September 18.

He added that the defendants allegedly invaded Aso Rock with various protestation placards capable of making the public 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-count charge of joint act, criminal trespass, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and attempted suicide levelled against them.

Uche Uwazuruonye, counsel to Lawal and Suleiman, the first defendants, thereafter, filed an oral application seeking the court to admit his clients to bail.

He said the offences were bailable, adding that his clients would always be available to stand justice.

“I assure the court that the defendants would not jump bail if admitted,” he said.

Dim Udebuani, counsel to the second defendant, also prayed the court to grant his client bail, saying this will provide the required atmosphere for him to prepare his defence.

Muhammad Abdulmumini, the magistrate, granted the three defendants a N250,000 bail and a surety respectively.

Abdulmumini said the sureties must be from a level of grade seven officer and above in the federal civil service within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case till October 16 for hearing.