Abandoned police barracks: Woman, five others in court

Atitebi Barracks
| credits: File copy

A woman, Tina Pasca, and five others, have been taken before the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for unlawfully occupying an abandoned police barracks in Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported in August 12, that the police barracks, Atitebi Police Barracks, in the Ebute Meta area of the state had turned into a den of hoodlums and rapists.

 After the report, the police were said to have stormed the building and rounded up many of the occupants at different times.

 A source, who witnessed the arrests, said, “Around 8pm the day after The PUNCH report, the police came here and began arresting people. The day after, policemen attached to the Railway Division also came and arrested more people.

 “Policemen from State Anti-Robbery Squad and from investigation department, Yaba, have also been here and made arrests.

  However, only six of the arrested persons have been taken to court.

The suspects were Pasca, 29; Nkem Uzoka, 35; Ibrahim Adeyemi, 21; Toyin Afolabi,19; Suleman Raji, 51; Lukman Jamiu, 18. They were arraigned on four counts of breach of the peace, trespass and willful damage.

 The charge read in part, “That you, Nkem Uzoka,m, Ibrahim Adeyemi,m, Tina Pasca,f, Suleman Raji,m, Lukman Jamiu,m, Toyin Afolabi,m, and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did willfully and unlawfully damage doors and windows of Botanical Garden Police Barracks Railway Compound ( Atitebi Barracks) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 349 (A) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

 The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 The counsel for the defendants, Mr. Ola Ogunbiyi, applied that they be granted bail in liberal terms.

 The magistrate, Mr. O.O Olatunji admitted the defendants on bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety.

 The matter was adjourned till October 9.