Daily Trust (Abuja)
Hussein Yahaya and Ibraheem A. Fatai
4 November 2009
Abuja — Seven youths that allegedly participated Sunday in a car street race near the Abuja National Mosque were yesterday arraigned before a magistrate court for alleged reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and constituting themselves into public nuisances.
Those arraigned in court after their arrest on November 1 by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and police, were: Ikechukwu Linus, Adam Olokwu, Arna Akari, Samuel Nitte, Chinwoke Nwokocha, Ogechi Nwachukwu and Samuel Nwachukwu.
Prosecutor Abuh Okpanachi told the court that the accused persons were arrested for dangerous driving along the Ecumenical Centre and National Mosque areas of Abuja.
"The accused persons were arrested for indulging in motor racing in a dangerous manner after taking much alcohol and drugs," the prosecutor stated.
He said during police investigation, it was discovered that the accused persons were driving under the influence of alcohol.
The prosecutor further stated that empty bottles of beer and Champaign drinks were recovered from the accused persons' car, adding that they usually constitute themselves into public nuisance by smoking profusely before embarking on the motor race.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed by the accused persons are punishable under Sections 28 (1) and 30 (1) of the Road Traffic Act and 183 of the Road Traffic Act.
When the case was first read to the accused persons, some of them smiled in court, which infuriated the magistrate, who rose and left the court room.
It took the intervention of the defence counsels to plead with the magistrate before he returned to the bench to continue the hearing.
When the charges were read to the accused persons, they all pleaded not guilty and their counsels led by Barrister S.E. Aruwa applied for their bail, promising that they will not jump bail or interfere with prosecution.
In his ruling, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 with two reasonable sureties in like sums that must present evidence of payments of utility bills and have reliable means of livelihood.
The magistrate also ordered that the sureties must reside within the court's jurisdiction and he adjourned the case to November 10 for hearing.
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