ALHAJI ADEDIBU ARRAIGNED BEFORE ABUJA MAGISTRATE COURT

Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu was arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate Court by the Nigeria Police for the breach of the Peace.

The prosecutor, Mr. Columbus Okaro, said in the charges that intelligence reports indicated that Adedibu and two other suspects had planned to cause public disturbance in Ibadan, Abuja and some states in the country.

Okaro, who did not name the two suspects, however, said that the arraignment of the politician was to extract an undertaking from him that he would be of good behaviour.

The charges read, “That you, Adedibu, and two others now at large were arrested on a reasonable suspicion in that you are likely to initiate disturbance of public peace.

“Your conduct and that of your thugs are likely to breach public peace in Abuja, Ibadan and other states of the country contrary to Section 88(1) of Criminal Procedure Code.”
Okaro said that the politician and his followers planned to unleash mayhem on people across the country.

He said although the cases against Adedibu were still being investigated, he urged the court to help the Police extract a promise from him to keep the peace.

The prosecutor said, “My Lord, we are still investigating the accused and his followers. Intelligence reports at our disposal are very grave and we would not want to reveal them now.

“What we want is for the court to help us extract a promise from him that he will not cause trouble.”
Okaro said he would not oppose the bail application but urged the court to take note that the accused was a very popular politician.

He added, “The accused person is a well-known and formidable politician in Nigeria. In some parts of this country, his words are like laws. Based on this, I want him to be granted bail with reasonable sureties and also extract a bond from him to be of good behaviour for one year.

“That one year is to enable us conclude our investigation and we believe that our fear of a breakdown of law and order will not happen.”

The magistrate granted Adedibu bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must own properties in Abuja.

Chief Adedibu was also ordered to write an undertaking that he would be of good behaviour,  while the case was adjourned till January 21, 2008.
Adedibu, had for sometime been linked to some acts that led to the breach of the peace in Oyo State and to persons reputed to be leaders of thugs.

He was on October 17 accused by Akunyili of using thugs to obstruct the agency’s activities in Oyo State.
Adedibu is said to be the mentor of the Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a Tokyo), who is believed to be behind clashes involving thugs in the state.

Akinsola was on February 20 declared wanted by the State Security Service for violence in the state.