Two South Koreans, Son Chun Gili and Jung Wookshin, alongside two Nigerians and their company, were on Tuesday, arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly attacking, assaulting and detaining officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The Nigerians and the company docked alongside the Chinese are; Akeem Idowu, Chikwendu Emeka and Solpia Nigeria Limited.
The prosecution had told the court that all the defendants had committed assault at 46, Iju Road, in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 29, 2022.
The defendants were accused of committing the alleged infractions against Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, who visited their office to scrutinize the company’s books and documents for the purpose of tax investigation.
The defendants actions according to the prosecutor, Moses Ideho, contravened Sections 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.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for trial date, as well as urged the court to remand them till the determination of the charge.
But the defendants’ legal team, asked the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms, saying that, the bail applications have been filed and same has been served on the prosecution.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Oweibo, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N1 million with one surety in like sum.
Justice Oweibo also ordered that the surety must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdisction.
The judge while adjourning the matter till November 16, for trial, however released the defendants to their lawyers for two weeks to perfect the bail conditions, after which they will be remanded at Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) custody.
Charges Against the defendants in 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 Dayok 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 the purpose of tax investigation by the federal Inland Revenue Service by denying Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, 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 Dayok 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 commited 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.”
