Police arraign three over alleged illegal tax collection in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has arraigned three individuals accused of engaging in illegal tax collection before Chief Magistrate’s Court 1 in Lokoja, the state capital.

The suspects, Abba Emmanuel, Umar Abubakar, and Kingsley Dan’sebe, were charged with criminal conspiracy, obstruction of a public highway, and extortion along the Lokoja-Abuja road. They were brought before Magistrate Abdullahi Musa Mopa.

The Police Prosecutor, G. O. Itowo, informed the court that the trio was apprehended on November 13 by the Vigilante Group of Lokoja Local Council. The vigilantes had caught the suspects allegedly impersonating the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service officials and erecting a roadblock for illegal revenue collection.

Itowo requested the court read the First Information Report to the defendants so that they could enter their pleas. All three defendants denied the allegations.

While the prosecutor sought a trial date, the defendants’ counsel, Muazu Abbas, urged the court to grant bail to his clients. Citing Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant provisions of the Kogi State Criminal Justice Law, Abbas argued that the offences were within the jurisdiction of the magistrate’s court.

“The defendants have been in police custody since November 13, 2024. We urge the court to consider their bail application. They are ready to provide reasonable and reliable sureties to ensure their availability for trial,” Abbas said.

The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application but advised the court to exercise caution while considering it. After hearing the arguments, Magistrate Mopa granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N400,000 and a surety in like sum. He specified that the sureties must have traceable addresses in Lokoja and be serving officers of at least Level 14 in federal or state parastatals. Additionally, the sureties must provide their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) to the court registrar.The case was adjourned until December 11 for further mention.