1st April, 2011
A petty thief who snatched a handbag containing N50,000 inside a moving commuter bus (Danfo) escaped lynching recently when he was caught and beaten mercilessly by the commuters who later handed him over to the police at Adekunle Station, Yaba, Lagos.
The police alleged that on 15 March, 2011 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the suspect identified as Kazeem Sowemimo, 31, joined others to board a bus going to Obalende from Bariga, but on getting to the Third Mainland Bridge, he allegedly removed a handbag containing N50,000 belonging to one of the commuters, Miss Ijeoma Emeka and hid it inside his clothes.
But nemesis caught up with him when the owner of the handbag raised an alarm which forced the driver to stop the vehicle. The driver, it was gathered, ordered everybody to alight from the bus for a thorough search.
In the course of searching, the bag was reportedly found inside his jeans trouser.
The commuters descended on him and beat him silly and later took him to the police station.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and was charged before the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on a one-count charge of stealing, an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol.11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the presiding magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N10,000 with two sureties and adjourned the matter till 11 April, 2011.
The accused was remanded in prison custody when nobody came to bail him.
—Paul Iyoghojie
