Robbery suspect, Abolaji arraigned for robbing passengers

The police at the Adeniyi Adele Division, Lagos Island have arrested a 29-year-old robbery suspect, Muyiwa Abolaji and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly attacking the passengers of a broken down bus with others now at large on Third Mainland Bridge.

The police alleged that the incident occurred on 6 September, 2022 at about 9:15 pm when the 18-seater bus broke down on the bridge and that the defendant and four others now at large came out from nowhere and descended on the passengers, robbed the driver of the bus, Mr. Aduramigba Okunola of his infinix phone valued N50,000 and N30,000 cash belonging to Gerad Oredola.

Police further alleged that the defendants and others hurriedly escaped from the scene when they sighted the chairman of the Lagos Island Security Network inside the bus.

The police said that following the incident, the victims reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Adeniji Division who swiftly dispatched his men led by PC Micheal Ofene to smoke out the fleeing suspect anywhere they might be hiding.

The police team swung into action and succeeded in arresting Abolaji at a hideout on Lagos Island in collaboration with the unit chairman of the Lagos Island Security Network.

Abolaji, a resident of Bola Street, Lagos Island, Lagos was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate Court on a two-count bordering on conduct likely to cause breach of peace and robbery.

Police’s prosecuting counsel, inspector Koti Aodohemba told the court that the defendant and others still at large attacked and robbed the passengers of a broken-down bus on Third Mainland Bridge and escaped before he was tracked and arrested.

He said the offences the defendant committed were punishable under sections 299 and 168(d) of the divisional law of Lagos State. 2015.

Abolaji, however, pleaded guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate A.T Omoyele adjourned the case for facts and sentencing.

On the adjourned date, Abolaji changed his guilty plea to not guilty to the facts of the matter presented before the court by the police counsel Koti Aodohemba.

Magistrate Omoyele subsequently granted him bail and adjourned the case for trial.