Eight persons who allegedly assaulted hospital patients and stole six cell phones and a laptop, were, on Friday, dragged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The accused are Yetunde Isiaka, 18; Boluwatife Omolaja, 18, Lawal Monsuru, 19, Ganiu Jubril, 21 and Waziri Oyegoke, 18, Ogungbemiro Ayobami, 18; Adewumi Ope, 19 and Lateef Tijani, 26.
They are facing five counts of stealing, unlawful damage, breach of peace, conspiracy and assault.
All the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution alleged that the accused conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by disturbing the peace of the patients and the hospital staff.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Edet Akada, told the court that the accused, with others still at large, committed the offences on January 3 at 10.45 p.m at Aishat Specialist Hospital, Idi-Araba in Mushin, Lagos.
Akada said the accused stole six phones and a laptop, the value of which were yet unknown, property of one Mr. Abiodun Gafari, a patient in the said hospital.
He added that the accused also inflicted injuries on the left hand of one Mr. Steve Agbor, another patient in the hospital.
“A boy was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The said boy was referred to a general hospital by the doctors on duty due to the bad behaviour of the people that brought him.
“As a result of this, the accused stormed the hospital with dangerous weapons and maliciously damaged the glass door of the hospital,” he said.
The Magistrate, Mr. K.O. Ogundare, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one responsible surety each in like sum.
Ogundare said the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.
The offences contravened sections 287, 411, 168, 350 and 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2016, (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 stipulates seven-year imprisonment for stealing, while Section 173 provides three years for assault.
The Magistrate adjourned the case until January 24 for hearing.