Man Sets Plaza Ablaze, Goods Worth Millions Destroyed

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 22-year old man, Chukwuma Amachuku, may have vented his anger on traders at a plaza in Lagos by setting the shops on fire and goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed in the inferno.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at NEPA Bus Stop opposite the mini stadium located in Ejigbo Lagos.

The motive behind the action was not known. He was said to have carried petrol at night, poured inside the shops, set them on fire and all the goods inside the shops were destroyed.

Some of the victims include, Okeniyi Rasheed, Ademola Dayo, Odezugo Chinyere, Yinusa Afolabiq, Sunday David, Titilola Awolola and a bus parked inside the plaza belonging to an undisclosed person. The cost of the damage could not be estimated by the police but the traders claimed that they lost goods worth millions of Naira.

Following the arson, the matter was reported to the police at Ejigbo Division; Amachuku was arrested and detained at the police station.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Amachuku declined to reveal why he did so and the police viewed his action as deliberate. He was charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence which may attract life imprisonment if he is tried and convicted by the Court.
When he was arraigned, the prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.
However, he pleaded not guilty. The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O Shomade, ordered him to be remanded in prison custody without an option of bail.
The Court directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 3rd June, 2019, for the report of the DPP to be ready.
It was gathered that if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends for his trial, the matter may be transferred to the High Court and if found guilty, he will be jailed accordingly.