21st October, 2013
A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Monday denied bail to Esther Ihedime, 25, who allegedly attempted to rob another woman with a toy gun.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo ruled that there was no cogent evidence before the court to support the defendant’s claim of ill-health.
She said that although the affidavit attached to the bail application said that the gun was not found on the defendant, other charges might be preferred against her in the course of the trial.
Opesanwo noted that the defendant submitted that she was running an errand for her mother when she was forced by some gunmen to join them in a robbery.
“The court is not in doubt of the defendant’s story, but every case is determined by its peculiarity,” she held.
The judge also said that denying the defendant bail was in her interest as it would prevent the unknown gunmen from contacting her.
Opesanwo ordered an accelerated hearing in the case, and adjourned it till 15 November for substantive trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ihedime is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted robbery.
The charge sheet said that Ihedime committed the offences on 2 November, 2012 at 159A, Akerele Extension, Surulere, Lagos, at 2.45p.m.
According to the charge, the defendant with others now at large, while armed with a toy gun, attempted to rob Miss Rukayat Abdulsalat of her valuables.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 296 and 298 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Section 296 provides that any person convicted of attempted robbery is liable to imprisonment for not less than 14 years but not more than 20 years.