The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted three fishermen and a police constable bail for one million naira each over the alleged kidnapping of nine police officers.

The judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, ordered that the accused persons produce two sureties each to be bonded in like sum.

Yunusa said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the other must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to October 5 for trial.

The accused -- Godwin German, 36, Tamarami Tunwa, 23, Akowe Jacob, 41, and Mayibi Hazeez, 29, are facing 10 counts bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping.

The accused persons who were first arraigned on Sept. 8 had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, DSP Raymond Odion, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 24, 2014, at 09.00 a.m, at Arepo, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Odion alleged that the accused kidnapped nine policemen and officers who were carrying out their lawful duties.

He said the kidnapped policemen were ASP Abdullahi Bature, Insp. Raymond Oriere, Insp. Usman Mohammed, Insp. Oguntimehin Kolawale and Insp. Tijani Jimoh.

Others are Cpl. Elogbamen, Cpl. Yakubu Alitu, Cpl. Usman Abdulkareem and Cpl. Dauda Mohammed.

He said that the offences contravened Section 2 (c) (ii) of the Terrorism prevention Act, 2011.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. S. W. Baide, urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.

“The accused persons are responsible citizens that will not jump bail.” (NAN)