CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Two men have been arraigned before a Lagos Magisterial District Court for allegedly hiring thugs to demolish traders’ shops at the popular Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos.
The two men, Abiola Olasupo, 45 years old, and Alani Wasiu, 36 years old, were arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious demolition, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, and stealing.
The case with Charge No: 114/2/43/12026 is between the Commissioner of Police and the two men. The matter was presented by the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba, with SP Philip Adegbemuji appearing as the prosecutor. The IPO in the matter is Inspector Eze Christian of SEB Ikeja.
According to the charge sheet filed before the court, the prosecution alleged that the two men and others still at large on August 27, 2025, at Chosen Generation and Peculiar Int’l Limited, a warehouse located at No.114, Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired among themselves to commit felony.
The charge further alleged that on the same date, time and place, the two men maliciously demolished shops owned by traders including Pastor Peter Uba at No.114, Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 339 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015, while the conspiracy charge is punishable under Section 411 of the same law.
The prosecution also alleged that the two men conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by allegedly hiring thugs to cause unrest at the warehouse, an offence punishable under Section 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015. In the fourth count, the two men were alleged to have carted away motor spare parts and vehicle accessories valued at Six Billion, Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N6,007,990,000.00), property of Chosen Generation and Peculiar Int’l Limited, an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
When the charges were read and interpreted to the two men in court, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them. The arraignment took place at about 11:24 am on August 19, 2026.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, SP Philip Adegbemuji, applied that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, for legal advice.
In her ruling on bail, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu granted the two men bail with two sureties each who must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The magistrate ordered that the two men be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, pending the perfection of their bail conditions. The case was thereafter adjourned for mention.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court of competent jurisdiction.