18th April, 2012
Two okada (motorcycle) robbery suspects have been arrested and arraigned by men of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, on a two-count charge of armed robbery.
Police investigation revealed that nemesis caught up with the accused persons on 2 March, 2012 at about 4:30 p.m. at Ajah bus stop, when they snatched a handbag from Elizabeth Nutiamedo, while on their moving motorcycle.
Their victim was said to have raised an alarm which attracted passersby and other motorcyclists.
They were pursued and caught and handed over to the police, while one escaped with the motorcycle. Their victim’s bag recovered and returned to its owner.
During interrogation, one of the suspects said: “We specialise in using okada to rob people around Lekki Expressway and Ajah bus stop.
“We would point a gun at our victims to surrender their properties unknown to them that it’s a mere toy gun. But we have not killed anybody.
“We reside at a make-shift hotel at Railway Line, Ijora Badia with prostitutes,” he stated.
The offences, the prosecutor Inspector, S. Omeyemi, said are punishable under Sections 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Act Cap. R11, vol. xxii, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
One of the charges reads: “That you (names withheld) and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, while armed with one toy, black pistol, did rob Elizabeth Nutiamedo of her belongings such as Blackbery, torchlight phone valued at N80,000, recharge cards valued at N70,000 and cash of N50,000, all valued at N200,000.
The plea of the accused persons was not taken because the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter.
The presiding magisterial Mr. O. Olatunji ordered that they be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutor, DPP, on the matter.
He adjourned the matter till 7 May, 2012.
—Paul Iyoghojie