The police have dragged seven people over alleged arson before an Isabo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The defendants are Musiliu Akinsanya, 53; Nurudeen Ogunlaja, 47; Olasoju Johnson, 40; Tunde Solanke, 41; Jimoh Ogunlaja, 45; Kabiru Shobola, 38; and Mathew Akinsanya, 32.
They are standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on arson and damage to property.
They were accused of setting a complainant’s car ablaze. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, ASP Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 16, at Iporo, Shopeyin village, in Owode Obafemi local government area of Abeokuta.
He said the defendants conspired to willfully set ablaze a Nissan Vanette C20 car valued N18 million belonging to one Mr Ebenezer David.
The prosecutor alleged that the incident occurred following a dispute arising from an alleged love affair between the complainant and the wife of the fourth defendant (Solanke).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the prosecutor said the fourth defendant alleged that the complainant impregnated his wife, which prompted him and other defendants to set his car ablaze.
Olu-Balogun also alleged that the complainant claimed he had been receiving death threats from the fourth defendant, which made him relocate to another community for the safety of his family.
He added that after the incident, the complainant reported the matter to the police, which led to the arrest of the defendants
The offences contravene the provisions of sections 443, 516 of the Criminal Law of Ogun State 2006.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Araba, granted defendants bail in the sum of N2 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
Araba ordered that the sureties must be bondsmen registered with the Ogun State Judiciary.
She adjourned the case until August 3 for hearing.
