A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday dismissed the bail application by Waliu Oladeji and Lateef Odugbemi who were docked for allegedly shooting Customs officers on duty.
Delivering her ruling, Justice A. Okeke held that the grounds upon which the defence counsel presented their clients’ bail application were weak and insufficient.
Citing various aspects of the law, Okeke said the defence counsel’s inability to controvert the evidences tendered by the prosecuting counsel meant they admitted the defendants should not be granted bail.
“The offences instituted against the defendants are so grave that one of them carries capital punishment and another attracts five to 20 years imprisonment.
“Besides, the complainant said the defendants can jump bail if freed because they are serial contraband smugglers.
“In addition, their nefarious activities can be a form of economic sabotage to Nigeria,” the judge said.
Okeke therefore, dismissed the bail application for lacking merit.
The judge adjourned the case until Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 for commencement of trial.
Oladeji and Odugbemi had pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge.
The charge was for offences bordering on attempted murder, conspiracy, unlawful attack and smuggling of rice.
Consequently, Mr A.A. Okelola, counsel to the first defendant, and Mr Olawale Sonibare had separately tendered bail applications on behalf of their clients, praying the court for liberal terms.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Smart Akande, had told the court that the duo alongside others now at large committed the crime in May in Ibadan.
Akande added that Oladeji and Odugbemi shot a gun at Nigeria Customs Service officials who were performing their lawful duties.
According to the prosecutor, the gun shot inflicted a very serious injury on a Customs officer.
He noted that other Customs officials at the scene shot back at the defendants before they were able to apprehend them.
