An Ikeja Magistrate’s court on Thursday
granted bail to eight armed robbery suspects said to have been involved
in a church robbery in which phones and money estimated at N2m was said
to have been stolen.
Among the suspects is the son of the traditional ruler of Ojokoro Community, 31-year-old Adeola Taiwo.
Others are Agozie Ordu, Amidu Shittu, David Bojuwola, Ismail Mufutau, Ahmed Akinola, Moruf Bello and Mutiu Adeosun.
PUNCH Metro had reported on
Friday, March 21, 2014 that about 15 armed men had stormed the Christ
Apostolic Church at Alagbado, Lagos State.
Our correspondent had reported that the
men had struck around 2am while the congregation was engrossed in a
prayer session during their monthly vigil.
The pastor of the church, who was in
hiding, was said to have identified the leader of the gang as the son of
the traditional ruler after Taiwo reportedly pulled off his mask while
arguing with a member of the gang over a stolen phone.
Community sources had told our
correspondent that after the church robbery, the gang, notorious for
their ruthless operation, further robbed three other streets.
Our correspondent gathered that after one
of them was arrested during the church robbery, further investigations
led to the arrest of nine others.
PUNCH Metro had reported that some high-powered influences had been pressuring the police authorities to drop the charges against the men.
The pastor was also said to have been under pressure to re-write his statement.
On Thursday, our correspondent noted that eight suspects were brought before the court.
They were arraigned on eight counts of armed robbery.
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.
They were represented by three defence counsel who asked for their bail.
The police prosecutor, Eranus Nnamonu, did not oppose the application for bail.
He said, “We are not objecting to the bail of the defendants. We have numerous complainants in this case.”
Only one of the fourteen complainants was in court.
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.
PUNCH
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