Three men – Kingsley Dan’sebe, Umar Abubakar and Abba Emmanuel – appeared before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 1 Lokoja, Kogi, State, on Wednesday over alleged illegal tax collection.
The trio were charged with criminal conspiracy, causing obstruction on public highway and extortion.
The Police Prosecutor, Gabriel Itowo, told the court that the suspects were arrested on Nov. 13, by a vigilante group in Lokoja, while posing as staff members of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services (KGIRS).
He said that the suspects mounted a roadblock on the Lokoja – Abuja Road and were collecting revenue illegally.
The defendants, however, denied the charges preferred against them.
Muazu Abbas, Counsel to the defendants in his bail application, urged the court to grant his clients bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and could be tried by the Magistrates’ Court.
“The defendant have been in police custody since November 13, 2024, and we urged the court to consider the bail application.
“The defendants will furnish the court with reasonable and reliable sureties to prove they will be available for trial,” he said.
The Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopa, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N400,000 each with a surety in like sum.
“The surety must have a traceable address in Lokoja, and must not be less than a level 14 officer either at the federal or state parastatal.
“The surety must disclose their Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN) to the court registrar,” he said.
He adjourned the case to Dec. 11, for further mention.(NAN)
