A Magistrate Court in Lokoja has granted bail to three individuals facing charges of mounting illegal roadblocks, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, and illegally collecting revenue. The accused—Abbah Emmanuel, Umar Abubakar, and Kingsley Danasabe—were arrested by the Kogi Vigilante Service on November 13, 2024, for allegedly extorting money from motorists along the Federal University Lokoja road in Felele.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges as read to them in the First Information Report (FIR). After hearing the case, Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Musa Mopa granted them bail in the sum of N400,000 each, with two sureties who must meet certain requirements. The sureties must be public servants in the state, holding at least a Grade Level 14 position in a reputable institution, and they must provide traceable addresses within Lokoja, as well as their Bank Verification Number (BVN), bank accounts, and National Identification Number (NIN).
The court adjourned the case to December 11, 2024, for further mention.
Mauzu A. Abbas, the defense counsel, argued that the defendants had been in custody since their arrest on November 13 and should be granted bail, citing Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 156 of the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2017. The prosecution, represented by Gabriel Otowu, did not object to the bail application but urged caution in handling the case.
