The police have arrested two men, Ayinde Kasali and Nojeem Adunfe, for allegedly being part of a gang that attacked the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) premises at Tin Can Island last July.
Kasali and Adunfe, of the Apapa area of Lagos, were apprehended following police investigation into a petition by NARTO alleging that unknown armed men had attempted to sack its members from the land.
According to the petition dated July 15, NARTO said the land was allocated to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in September 2003.
The suspects were arraigned Monday by the Force Headquarters Annex, Obalende, Lagos before Mrs O. Kusanu.
They are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed forcible entry and threat to life.
Prosecuting Corporal Chinedu Njoku told the court that the offences occurred at Port Novo Creek, Tin Can Island, in early July.
“The defendants and others at large, while armed with cutlasses, iron rods and other dangerous weapons and in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, forcibly entered land that was in the actual and peaceable possession of NARTO,” Njoku said.
He alleged that they did so ‘with an intent to commit felony.’
The offences, he added, contravened Sections 409, 310(f) and 52 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants denied the charge.
Magistrate Kusanu granted them N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till October 18.