Robbery Suspect Sentenced To Prison

For allegedly robbing a trader and dispossessing him of N150,000 after attacking him with a gun and other dangerous weapons, an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, has remanded a suspect at the Ikoyi Prisons.

The suspect, Augustine Azuka Ebusome, 35, was arraigned on a two-count charge of felony, to wit, armed robbery, offences contrary to Section 1(1)(2)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The police at Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, alleged that in the month of February, 2009, the suspect who claimed to be a trader at the Ladipo Market, Mushin, shot Sylvanus Mkpo at the market  and snatched his N150,000 before escaping.

He was arrested four months later at his Okota, Isolo residence.

He told the police that he hawks second-hand motor spare parts at the Ladipo market during the day. Items recovered from him include one BMW car with registration number GF 864 KJA and a Honda Accord car with registration GU 293 ABC suspected to be stolen.

In his confessional statement to the police, he allegedly wrote: “I operate with a three-man gang in Lagos, Maiduguri and Eastern states. My accomplices include Chinwe Aka Aziki, Uche Dada Aka Padded and Joseph Offor, a.k.a Dogo.”

“The police at  Umudiji Ukuzor Police Division in Anambra State arrested me and seized my three AK47 rifles before I ran back to Lagos State to resume operation.”

The presiding magistrate, F. O. Aigbo Khaevbo refused to take his plea and ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody, pending the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP.

The matter has been adjourned till 3 May, 2011.

—Paul Iyoghojie