5th December, 2011
An Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Oyingbo, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has remanded two soldiers and two civilians for armed robbery and kidnapping.
The soldiers from Ojo Cantonment and their accomplices, gave their names as Ahmed Kasali, 30, a Sergeant; Corporal Dantata Gambo, 32; Okechukwu Uba, 26 and Bello Ojoh, 34.
The suspects were alleged to have on 23 September, 2011, at about 12.30a.m. at Berger Cement Bridge, along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, while armed with dangerous weapons, robbed an IVECO truck with registration number Lagos XV 580 KSF, conveying 33,000 litres of kerosene, property of Twinscrown Oil and Gas Company.
The soldiers were also alleged to have unlawfully abducted the driver, Afolabi Adebola, 31, and Jubril Rafiu Oluwagbenga, 36, his assistant and kept them in them in a Volkswagen kombi bus (danfo) marked Lagos GN 71 LND and took them to an unknown place without their consent.
A police source told P.M.NEWS that the captives were rescued by the police from Festac Police station who heard them crying for help from the bus where they were locked up.
During the abduction, the defendants allegedly caused grevious bodily harm to their captives.
They suspects were arraigned on a four-count charge of felony to wit armed robbery, robbery, conspiracy and kidnap.
Inspector Sam Omoyeni, the prosecuting police officer told the court that the offences are contrary to Section 6(b) and punishable under Sections 1(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions), Act Cap. R11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Sections 516 and 364 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol.II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Folashade Ogalla, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, while the case was adjourned till 23 December, 2011 for mention.
— Paul Sanusi