By Kunle SHONUGA
Three staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Wednesday appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly setting ablaze the IBEDC office in Ilesa.
The defendants, Bidemi Adebisi, 39; Philip Sunday, 17 and Adeyemi Sunday, 19, are facing a six count-charge bordering on conspiracy and arson.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Olusegun, told the court that the trio committed the offences with some other persons still at large from March 14 to March 17 at 8:30pm at Ilesa.
Olusegun said the defendants who set the office ablaze also assaulted some other members of staff of the electricity company.
He said the defendants also unlawfully damaged windows and doors in the office s well as vehicles belonging to the company.
“They conducted themselves in a manner that led to the breach of public peace, ‘’ he said.
He said the offence contravened Sections 516, 443, 451, 355, 70 and 76 of the Criminal Law of Osun, 2002.
The Defense Counsel, Mr Allo Emmanuel, urged the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with one surety each in the like sum.
Ayilara said the sureties should reside within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of tax payments to the Osun Government.
He said the sureties should also be civil servants in the state and adjourned the case to May 3 for mention.==NAN
