By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Police Command has arraigned seven suspected members of a robbery gang before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba.
The suspects are Blessing Felix Onyema (F), Sunday Alabigu, Sylvester Nwajagu (M), Celestine Nnailo (M), Obinna Onu (M), Onyedike Vincent (M), and Ido Vincent Chinedu.
They were arraigned before Chief Magistrate P. E. Nwaka.
During the arraignment, Prosecuting Counsel, Williams Ologun, told the court that the suspects unlawfully conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 259 and punishable under Section 297 (2) (a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
He informed the court that the suspects armed with guns allegedly stole sixteen drums of Starlight, 96 Core Optic Fibre Cables valued N80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira) property of Jus Partners Cosmopolitan Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Section 297(1)(2}(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
Ruling on their bail applications, Chief Magistrate P. E. Nwaka, admitted the 1st defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with 3 sureties in like sum.
The court also granted the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with 3 sureties in like sum and three years tax clearance
While the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are admitted to bail but they are all to report on every second and 4th Mondays at Zone 2 Onikan Lagos.
Chief Magistrate Nwaka while reviewing the case file said that the only nexus of the first defendant to the entire charge was that monies were received in her Zenith bank account which were proceeds of crime.
However, the court did not take the plea of 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants because the court lacks jurisdiction over the matter.
Magistrate Nwaka held that the second and third defendants were to be remanded in prison facility for the first 30 days pending the duplication of the case file at the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution for advice.
O.O. Ogunleye appeared for the complainant as counsel holding watching brief.