No fewer than thirteen members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch have been placed under remand at Kuje Correctional Centre for the attempted murder of Williams Akporeha, the union’s National President, and two other individuals.
The development follows an order from a Federal Capital Territory high court on Friday.
According to reports, Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the remand order after their arraignment on a five-count criminal charge.
Those arraigned include a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua, his deputy, Mr. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, and others.
After the defendants entered a not-guilty plea, Frank Longe, the prosecution’s attorney, requested a trial date. But the defendants’ main attorney, Chris Oshomogie, SAN, made an oral request for his clients’ bail, arguing that the acts they were accused of committing qualified as bailable charges.
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The bail request was denied by the court, which then requested that he submit a formal application.
Justice Halilu subsequently imposed a remand order on them while their bail request was being considered.
The justice later adjourned the trial to November 21.