From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will on Tuesday resume trial in the charge against
the immediate past National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Lucky Osesua, etstwhile deputy National Chairman, Mr. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga and 11 others over alleged assault.

They were last Friday remanded in Kuje prison in the charge by the Inspector General of Police for allegedly assaulting Wale Afolabi and Williams Akporeha,

Augustine Egbon, General Secretary, National President of NUPENG and the newly elected PTD national chairman, respectively and two others .

Although, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the five-counts, Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison pending their bail application.

Those arraigned are a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, Lucky Osesua his Deputy, Mr. Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka and Tiamiu Sikiru.

The rest are Abdulmimin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha.

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Counsel to the defendants, Chris Osshomogie (SAN), had made an oral application for their bail, claiming that their offences are bailable in nature.

Justice Yusuf Halilu however rejected the oral bail application insisting that they file a formal bail application.

The prosecution counsel, Frank Longe had earlier asked the court for a date for commencement of trial.

After turning down their oral application for bail, the judge then adjourned the the case to November 21 for trial.

Some of the counts, in the charge marked: CR/042/2023 reads:that you Lucky Osesua, Humble Obinna, Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmumin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha on the 1st of November, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to cause breach of peace, laid siege at the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) office at No. 50 Moses Majekodenmi Crescent , Utako District against one Williams Akporeha, Olawale Afolabi, Solomon Kilanko and Augustine Egbon and you thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

That you Lucky Osesua, Humble Obinna, Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmumin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha on the 1st of November, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did act in a manner likely to cause the death of one Wiliams Akporeha and Augustine Egbon and you thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 229 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

In count four they were accused of voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm to Williams Akporeha, Olawale Afolabi, Solomon Kilanko and Augustine Egbon.