The National Inland Waterways Authority’s Police Command has arraigned two suspects in a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital, for alleged conspiracy and negligence leading to a boat mishap in the town.

The agency announced this in a statement over the weekend, which was obtained by The PUNCH.

The statement explained that the defendants, Musa Dangana and Yakubu Dangana, both residents of Lokoja, were being tried on charges of alleged conspiracy and negligence.

According to a police report, the area manager of the NIWA Lokoja Area Office, Titus Adoga, reported the incident to the commandant of the NIWA’s Inland Waterways Nigeria Police Command in the headquarters.

The prosecutor, Mr. Gabriel Otowu, alleged that the defendants jointly owned a commercial wooden boat that capsized en route to Kacha Market in Niger State from Kupa in the Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He said that at about 5:45 am on November 29, 2024, the defendants transported 60 passengers from Kupa to Kacha Market without providing life jackets or considering the weather conditions.

“Despite several warnings against travelling without life jackets, the defendants failed to exercise due vigilance,” Otowu said.

Otowu further alleged that during the journey, the boat struck a submerged log, which led to its capsize and resulted in some casualties.

“The police investigation led to the arrest of the defendants, who have made statements,” he told the court.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Defence Counsel, Mr. Zakari Useni, applied for the bail of the defendants premised on sections 156, 160, and 163 of the Criminal Justice Law of Kogi.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Abdullahi Musa-Mopa, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each with a civil servant on level 14 as a surety who must also be a Lokoja resident.

The case was adjourned to March 20, 2025, for further hearing.