Idaho alleged that the victims of the crime were: Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji, and Dayak Klinger.
The lawyer claimed that the FIRS Officials had visited the defendants’ office to scrutinise the company’s books and documents for tax evaluation.
He maintained that the offence violated Sections 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and was punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.
All the defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on their pleas, Idaho urged the court to fix a trial date and also remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services until the determination of the charge.
But the defence counsel, asked the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms, arguing that their bail applications have been filed and served on the prosecution.
In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety in like sum each.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be a landed property owners within the Court’s jurisdiction.
Before adjourning the matter till November 16 for trial, the court released the defendants to their lawyers and gave them two weeks to perfect their bail conditions, after which they will be remanded in prison.
Charges Against the defendants in the charge marked FHC/L/467c/2022 read: “That you Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about the 29th of August 2022, at No 46, Iju Road, in Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did obstruct Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji, and Dayak Klingri, authorized officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the performance of their official duties; by barricading and detaining them in your premises and hindered the said officers from carrying out their lawful functions and by thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.
“That you, Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited, and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about the 29th of August 2022, at 46, Iju Road, in Lagos, Lagos State and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did impede access to the books and documents for a tax investigation by the Federal Inland Revenue Service by denying Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji, and Dayak Klin,gri, all authorized officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service from carrying out a search of the premises and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 41 (b) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 41 (d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007.
“That you, Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M); Son Chun Gill (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited, and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about the 23rd of August 2022, at 46, Iju Road, Lagos, Lagos State of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did assault Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayak Klingri, authorized officers of the Federal inland Revenue Service, whilst lawfully performing their functions and Exercise their powers under the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment Act 2007) and committed an offence contrary to Section 41(a) of the Federal Inland Service (Establishment) Act and punishable under Section 41 (d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007.”
