The Lagos State Government on Friday arraigned a suspected notorious land grabber, Kamorudeen Lamina, before a Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi.

He was arraigned alongside six others for charges relating to land grabbing.

Others arraigned alongside him are Omotola Ogunsanmi, Samson Shobule (a.k.a Samson Salau), Biliaminu Orega (a.k.a Biliaminu Salau), Jimoh Aromasodu, Wasiu Orenuga and Nurudeen Kasali.

Lamina and his gang were said to have been terrorising the people of Ikorodu area of the State for some time before he was arrested on Thursday.

After the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyers, E. Obatayo and B.O. Abdusalam have also applied to the court for bail.

The lawyers argued that the offences for which their clients were charged are bailable, and that they were ready to defend the case.

The prosecutor, Mosunmola Balogun from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose conditions which would make the defendants available for trial

In his ruling, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a land owner in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below grade level 15. The sureties must have three years tax clearance and registration with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).

The Magistrate also ordered the defendants to deposit N150,000 each with the court, while they are to be remanded in Badagry Prison pending when they are able to meet the bail conditions.

The matter has been adjourned to July 13.

•Text courtesy of TV360 Nigeria.

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