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The Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Oyo state chapter, Comrade Waheed Olojede and six other Union leaders arrested on Thursday for leading a protest in Ibadan were on Friday charged to court.
The union leaders led a protest against privatization of schools in the state on Wednesday, during which protesters disrupted a government stakeholders meeting to discuss the policy.
The seven accused persons who are arraigned on six counts charge pleaded not guilty to the allegations leveled against them at an Iyaganku Magistrate Court, Ibadan. They were accused of assault and on the Secretary to the State Government, Lekan Alli.
The prosecuting counsel, Barr. M.A Ojeah argued against bail for the accused persons saying their offence was not bailable but the defense counsel to the 6th and 7th accused persons, Barr. Olutayo Oyewale said the accused persons were playing their statutory role and therefore wrong for the state government to prosecute them.
He therefore prayed the court to release them on personal recognition vowing that he would produce them when needed to appear in court.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jamiu Adebisi said the offense committed by the accused persons was non-capital and therefore bailable.
He asked the accused persons to provide sureties who must be worth N200,000 and who have National ID card, gainfully employed and have three years task clearance as bail conditions.
