A 67-year- old man, Mutairu Owoeye, his son Ganiyu Owoeye, 42, were on Tuesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged invasion and destruction of 15 communities in Ibeju Lekki area.

The arraignment of the duo was sequel to a protest by the communities and appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to save them from the alleged invaders.

The accused reside at Km 36, Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State and No. 5, Owoeye St., Sango Ota, Atan Local Government, area of Ogun State respectively.

They are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, possession of firearms, unlawful invasion, stealing and illegal demolition of properties.

The prosecutor, SP Kehinde Oluwole, said that ‎on April 17, at 8:00 a.m., at Oko-Olomi village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, the accused and others at large invaded some communities.

He said the communities invaded included, Oko Olomi, Olowu Oko-Olomi, Adeba (Jaguna), Itapampa Adeba (Onikonko), Oko-Ile, Oko Idioro, Idi Ope and Adeba.

The prosecutor said that the area invaded was a large wide size of 1,561 Hectares of land with different types of buildings.

He said the accused invaded the area with guns and other offensive weapons which they used to demolish the houses of several residents.

Some of the residents whose houses were demolished are Miniru Salia, Raji Adisa, Kamol Agoro, Bariu Abogunloko, Edward ‎Onwunle,Tolani Anifowoshe, Tajudeen Mojeed Eleku, Kufuli Babatunde, Waliu Alabi, and Mohammed Quadiri.

Others are: Ajoke Abiodun, Taiwo Agbaje, Adekanbi Ismail, Saheed Oloore, Kolawole Oladele, Ayinde Dehinde, Elejo Alidu, Bofa Amusan, Adediran Samuel, Abiodun Rasheed and Ayodeji Raheem.

Oluwole said the accused allegedly carted away properties worth millions of naira.

He said the accused stole some properties from the area which included a Pathfinder jeep valued at N2.5million and an ash coloured Xtera Jeep valued at N3.5million.

Other properties stolen were: a Toyota Camry car valued at N1million and 150 cows, belonging to Mr Muniru Salia.

He said Ganiyu also unlawfully attempted to kill one Saheed Oloore by shooting him.

The prosecutor said the accused were unlawfully in possession of three pump action guns with nos. 2856, 8976, 2598 and also a double barrel gun with two live cartridges.

He said the offences contravened Sections 56, 285, 228, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011 and Sections ‎27 (1) (a) (i) of Firearms Act, Cap F28, F28, of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The counsel to the accused, Mr A. O. Isaacs, urged the court to grant them bail on liberal term.

He said that the accused had been in detention in Abuja since one week and were brought to Lagos by road.

Isaacs also said that the accused brought development to the area under dispute, adding that the accused owned properties worth N400million in the area.

He said that there was nothing on the charge sheet that made the offence a capital offence.

Oluwole opposed the bail application on the grounds that the case was still under investigation.

While ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Mrs A. O. Awogboro, over ruled the prosecutions objection, saying the offences were bailable.

She, however, granted them N2 million bail with two responsible sureties.

She said the sureties should produce evidence of substantial means of livelihood, evidence of tax payment and their addresses to be verified.

The case was adjourned till Dec. 15 for mention.