by ‘Jola Sotubo

Two men in Lagos have been arrested and charged to court after they allegedly attempted to set a police officer on fire.

40-year-old Laminu Rashidi, a commercial bus driver and Okikiola Bello, his accomplice were said to have poured petrol on the policeman, one  Ashafa Ahmadu, who had accosted them for committing a traffic offence.

The duo were arraigned on the charges today before a Magistrate Court sitting in the Somolu area of the state.

Leadership reports:

Rashidi and Bello who reside at Bashorun and Kadiri streets in Bariga respectively, are facing a two-count charge of assault and breach of public peace.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 28 along Jagunmolu Road, Somolu, Lagos.

Adegoke said that the accused assaulted Ahmadu by pouring petrol on him in a commercial bus with registration number XR 87-AGL, belonging to the driver.

“The accused were arrested for obstructing the flow of traffic and other traffic offences along Jagunmolu Road on the morning of Jan. 28.

“The policeman in an attempt to stop the accused from escaping sat in the bus.

“The duo then siphoned fuel from the tank of the bus and poured it on the bus and the policeman sitting therein while threatening to set him ablaze.

“They were consequently apprehended and taken to the police station,” he said.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 166, 172 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted each of the accused N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case till March 12 for trial.