CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Four traders at the abattoir animal market, Oko-Oba in Agege area of Lagos, who allegedly specialized in buying and selling dead goat meat to customers after using some chemical substance to preserve it, have been arrested by the Police.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Abdulwahab Soqid, 19, Adamu Abubakar, 21, Lateef Yaya, 38 and Azeez Isah, 32, were arrested by Police detectives from Oko-Oba Division based on intelligence reports.
They were said to have been in the business of buying dead goats from dealers, who usually brought goats from the Northern part of Nigeria to Lagos State. Due to long distance journey, some of the goats may die on the way before they get to destination for sales.
However, instead of disposing the dead goats, the suspects will buy from the dealers and subsequently sell to customers at cheaper rates as they may not be aware that they were buying dead goats from them.
When the Police got the information, they moved into action, arrested the suspects and detained them at the station for interrogation over the conduct.
During interrogation, they reportedly admitted to have been doing so but claimed that they use some chemicals to preserve the meat for human consumption.
The Police found them culpable and subsequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conspiracy and being in possession of dead goats for sale to the public.
They pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubeinje, granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in the like sum, who must show evidence of payment of tax.
They were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 14th December, 2022, for mention.