A Chief Magistrate Court in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, has ordered the remand of 38 protesters at the Correctional Centre over allegations of violence and destruction of public facilities.
Protest by suspected supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate erupted in the state capital in response to the Supreme Court’s judgement upholding the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The police arrested and arraigned the protesters, among them 33 women and five males on Friday afternoon, accusing them of engaging in acts of violence, blocking roads, and destroying public property.
The protesters were said to have blocked roads, set tyres ablaze, thereby causing gridlock and disturbing public peace.
The court has adjourned till January 21, to hear their application for bail.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the state says the arrested 38 protesters were charged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 3 Lafia for the offences.
When the matter was mentioned for hearing by the prosecuting counsel, Danjuma Allu, the Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Abdullahi Lanze, reserved ruling on their bail application to Monday.
Earlier, Illiya Ashokpa, the defence counsel, applied that the court should grant them bail but his application was turned down.
The protesters comprised five males and 33 females.
DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state had confirmed the arrest and prosecution by the command.
The Supreme Court had on Friday, affirmed the victory of Gov. Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of the state.
