The police on Friday arraigned ten men before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly extorting money from road users.
The defendants are: Adeola Oyekunle, 19; Toheeb Azeez, 21; Saheed Tajudeen, 21; Emmanuel Okolo, 33 and Ebenezer Obey, 28.
Others are: Adetola Adewale, 27; Abdulateef Kaka, 20; Muhammed Mubarak, 18; Abdulateef Shofolarin, 18 and Olamilekan Amode, 18.
The defendants are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful extortion, breach of peace and indecent act.
However, they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp. Kenrich Nomayo, alleged that the defendants acted in an indecent manner by blocking the Orile Agege Road and forcefully extorting money from motorists.
Nomayo told the court that the defendants committed the offences with others still at large on Feb. 19 about 6.30 a.m., on Olaoluwa Road, Orile Agege, a Lagos suburb.
He submitted that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by insulting motorists and disturbing the neighborhood.
The prosecutor said the alleged offences contravened Sections 44(1), 123, 134, 168 (d) and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Magistrate Elizabeth Adeola admitted the defendants to N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Adeola ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.
She adjourned the case until March 23 for mention.