Eleven members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were on Wednesday arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital.
The NULGE members were arraigned on a 6-count charge by the Police in a matter between them and Commissioner of Police.
The charges included conspiring to commit a felony, forgery, malicious damage of NULGE property and placing the Union President in fear of physical injury and anxiety of being trailed by gunmen.
Among the accused persons were Chidi Orakwue, Alagwu Odife, Ezeibe Kenechi Mark, Nzekwe Chidi, Ifeanyi Nworah and Okam K. Ifeanyi.
Others were Victormary Anuna, Okaka Chukwunonso, Nwalutu Patrick, Igbokwe Ugochukwu and Nwankwo Onyebuchi.
They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The Prosecution counsel, CSP Nwezi Chuka, said the life of NULGE president, Adigwe Chikwelu was under siege and attack, adding that defendants kept committing same offense of issuing death threats to NULGE president even when the matter was under investigation.
While praying Court to give the matter an accelerated hearing, Chuka also urged her to give an order for the remand of the defendants in a correctional center in the interest of peace and tranquility.
Responding, Defense Counsel, Sir Basil Aguigwo argued that all charges were not only bailable offenses, but the Magistrate Court has jurisdiction to grant such bail.
According to him, all defendants are civil servants on Grade Levels 14 and 15 respectively, and had neither disobeyed previous invitations of the police to warrant them to disobey court summons.
Presiding over the matter, Magistrate Anyaegbunam Nonyelum said the charges are proper bailable offenses and granted accelerated hearing on the matter.
She also granted defendants bail with varying conditions, including providing a surety, depositing N50,000, two passport photographs, affidavits, among others.
Nonyelum urged the parties to be of good behavior pending the outcome of the matter.
The hearing of the matter will commence on September 12 to October 18, 2023.
