Further to my post of last week of the robbery incident which occurred in Christ Apostolic Church in Alagbado, Lagos State, involving 15 armed robbers who robbed church members of the church during their night vigil at 2:20am, stealing about 40 mobile phones and money estimate of N2 Million, the armed robbery suspects were on Thursday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s court and charged with eight counts of armed robbery.
The suspects are: the 31-year-old son of the traditional ruler of Ojokoro Community, Adeola Taiwo, Agozie Ordu, Amidu Shittu, David Bojuwola, Ismail Mufutau, Ahmed Akinola, Moruf Bello and Mutiu Adeosun.
It was gathered that the gang who are well known for their notorious operations went on to rob three other streets after robbing the church.
Meanwhile it had been learnt that some high-powered influences had been mounting pressure on the police authorities to drop the charges against the suspects and the pastor who was able to identify the son of the traditional ruler as a suspect have also been under pressure to re-write his statement.
The charge reads in part;
“That you Agozie Ordu, Adeola Taiwo, Amidu Shittu, and others now at large on February 22, 2014 at about 2.20am, at C.A.C, Oke Alafia Area, of Ojokoro Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; Armed Robbery and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011."
“That you did rob various type of cell phones, laptop, palmtops and cash sum of N421, 105, total value of N2m, property of Pastor Julius Odewale and members of CAC, Oke Alafia and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
The charge added that on March 10, there was another robbery operation at the Adura area, Ojokoro, in which phones, laptops, a wedding ring, and various sums of money were stolen from 13 residents.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge read against them. The court granted eight of the robbery suspects bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate said, “The defendants are admitted to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be gainfully employed, residents in Lagos with three years tax clearance and their addresses verified.”
The matter was adjourned till June 5, 2014.
Culled from Punch
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