Two suspected cult members were on Tuesday arraigned before a Dutse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly assaulting police officers and resisting arrest.
The defendants, Ogene Bright, 23, and Sunday Adamu, 25, are facing charges of unlawful assembly, resisting arrest, causing grievous hurt and criminal intimidation.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Mrs Ogehenekaro Agbodo, told the court that the alleged offences were committed on July 17.
Agbodo said ASP Tukur Abubakar led a team of police detectives to invite Bright, Adamu and another suspect, Victor Adamu, who is currently at large, to the police station following complaints from residents of Tasha Village in Abuja that they had been terrorising the community.
According to her, the defendants allegedly refused to honour the police invitation.
”Adamu, at large, attacked inflicted an injuries on ASP Abubakar, the DCO3 Of Gwagwa division, Abuja.
“The defendants called other members of their fraternity who joined in attacking the police men.
“They also threatened to kill the police officers if they laid hands on any of their members,” she told the court.
She said police reinforcements were deployed on July 18, leading to the arrest of the defendants.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants failed to give a satisfactory account of their actions during police investigation.
She said the offences contravened Sections 103, 171, 248 and 379 of the Penal Code.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Alkali, granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties must either be civil servants on Grade Level 14 or reputable members of society with reliable means of identification.
The case was adjourned until Sept. 14 for hearing.
