By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Kehinde Olasanmi
LAGOS — Twenty-Five displaced flood victims in Lagos State, who were accused of demonstrating against alleged maltreatment by government officials at the Agbowa transit camp, where they were kept, have been docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court.

The accused persons, who were, yesterday, arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and arson before Chief Magistrate Olufemi Isaac, were said to have conspired and attempted to set on fire the Lagos State Temporary Resettlement Camp, Agbowa in Ikorodu.

The offence is said to be contrary to Sections 444(1) and 249(d) Criminal Code Law Cap 617 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State 2003.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

They were granted bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum, with evidence of tax payment.
However, following the court order, they were moved to the Kirikiri prisons custody pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.

They are among those  the government had resettled in the camp following the flood that hit the state recently.
The accused persons were said to have threatened to set the camp on fire on July 29, when they felt government officials handling the disbursement of government welfare packages had short-changed them.

Vanguard gathered that those who protested were up to 69, while only 25 of them brought to court, yesterday.