Court sets date for trial of Lagos Assembly staff in SSS assault case
Sequel to the arraignment of three staff members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who allegedly assaulted operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court yesterday fixed April 24, 2025, for the trial.
The defendants, Olanrewaju, Adetu Adekunle, and Fatimoh Adetola, were arraigned before the court and pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
They were alleged to have assaulted operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), who were invited to the Assembly complex during the leadership crisis that occurred on February 17.
However, following their plea of not guilty to the charge marked FHC/L/273C/2025, Justice Osiagor adjourned the trial to April 24, 2025.
Operatives of the DSS alleged that the three Assembly staff members and others still at large conspired among themselves to assault officers of the State Security Service while they were performing their official duties, without any reasonable excuse.
They were also alleged to have, on February 17, 2025, aided and abetted the obstruction of officers of the State Security Service while performing their official duties, without any reasonable cause.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants engaged in cyberstalking by recording and sending false information to social media, circulating the same across the country to cause a breakdown of law and order without any justification.
In particular, the DSS accused them of committing a felony by willfully misdirecting electronic messages to social media for the purpose of embarrassing the State Security Service and its officials.
The duo of Ibrahim Olanrewaju and Adetu Adekunle were accused of using an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a Tecno POP 8 to record false information and send the same to social media for circulation, intending to embarrass the State Security Services and cause a breakdown of law and order among the public.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Barrister M. O. Bajela, contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as well as Sections 27(1)(b), 24(1)(b), 24(c)(i), and 11 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended), 2024.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Bajela, asked the court for a trial date. However, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Frank Eke, informed the court that he had filed their bail applications and had served the same on the prosecutor.
The lawyer described the prosecution of his clients as “collateral damage.”
He pleaded with the court to admit them to bail on the most liberal terms.
Responding, the prosecutor informed the court that he was served with the bail application while in court yesterday.
However, he told the court that he would leave the bail decision to the court’s discretion.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Osiagor admitted each of the defendants to N3 million bail with one surety each.
The judge also ordered that the surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer or above.
The judge thereafter adjourned the defendants’ trial to April 24.
