The police in Ogun State has dragged two traditional chiefs from Igbore town in Abeokuta to court over alleged malicious damage to the family house of one Mr Waheed Balogun.
The chiefs, Seyi Onifade, 50, and Kehinde Sofenwa, 57, were brought before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
They are facing a five-count charge of malicious damage, stealing, conspiracy, forceful entry, and causing breach of peace.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs E.O. Idowu, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N3 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
Idowu, and thereafter, adjourned the case until January 16, 2024, for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the duo committed the offences sometime in October at about 10:30 am in the Oke-Itoku area of Abeokuta.
Rawlings said that the defendants conspired with others, now at large, to damage the family property of Waheed Balogun by removing the roofing sheet and planks without the complainant’s consent.
She further stated that the defendants also stole the roofing sheet and planks, valued at N2.5 million.
Rawlings added that they conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by deliberately demolishing the house of the Balogun family.
The offences, according to her, contravene sections 451, 383, 516, 249, and 81 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
Meanwhile, a staff of Enugu State Fire Service was confirmed dead early Wednesday morning as he battled, alongside his colleagues, to quench a raging inferno at the Enugu State Motor Spare Parts Market.
The market is located at the Coal Camp area, within the Enugu metropolis.
It was learnt that the fire started from one of the spare parts shops, before spreading to a fast food joint.
A source hinted that a gas cylinder in the fast food joint exploded and made the fire extend to over 40 shops.
The President of the Spare Parts Market Association, Mr Mike Nome confirmed that millions of Naira was lost to the fire incident.
He disclosed that, “it started from one of the shops; when the security men noticed it, they struggled to open the shop but it was difficult because of burglary proof.
“As they were still struggling with it, the fire spread to the fast food joint and a gas cylinder exploded, making things more difficult.
“We invited fire service and they responded to our call. Unfortunately, one of the fire fighters collapsed owing to the thick smoke from the fire.
“When his colleagues noticed it, they raised alarm. We rushed him to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, but he didn’t make it. It’s quite a sad development.
“The fire affected over 40 shops and destroyed goods worth hundreds of millions.
“We are appealing to the government and good spirited individuals to come to our rescue.”