A magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja on Tuesday remanded three suspected thieves who were terrorising student communities of Adakolo, Felele, Bassa Village and Crusher, all in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the trio were arrested in connection with the recent attacks on the Student-populated communities and the dispossessing of valuables such as smartphones, computers and others.
The suspects, Abbas Salisu (22yrs), Gimba Ibrahim (25yrs) and Mamud Lawal Kwara were charged to court by the State Security Service (SSS) on four count charges of Criminal Conspiracy, stealing, purchasing of stolen properties and belonging to a criminal gang.
The Prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Yahaya who filed the case before the Magistrate Court urged the court to remand the accused persons at KotonKarfe Medium Correctional Centre pending the commencement of the Case.
The Charge sheet reads, “That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), Gimba Danlami IBRAHIM, (25years) and Mamud Lawal Kwara (26years), on or about February 2024 in Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did criminally conspire to commit an illegal act to wit; theft of phones, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), between February and March 2024, in Adankolo and Felele Area of Lokoja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole thirty-three (33) phones (Android and button) valued at one million Naira (N1m), thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Gimba Danlami IBRAHIM, (25yeas), and Mahmud Lawal KWARA (26years, between February and 1st March 2024, at Paparanda Square Lokoja, dishonestly received stolen phones from Abbas SALISU knowing fully well that they were stolen properties, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), Gimba Danlami Ibrahim !25yrs), and Mahmud Lawal Kwara (26years), male, at Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, belong to a gang of thieves associated with stealing along Adankolo, Ibro Motor Park, Felele, No Time Lodge Okadigbo, Kogi State Polytechnic environs and Federal University Lokoja, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 306 of Kogi State Penal code.”
The four suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defence counsel, Mr M.A. Abbas sought an adjournment to enable him to prepare his application for their bail.
However, the trial Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah remanded the three suspects in Kotonkarfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till May 9, 2024, for a hearing.
Similarly, the Chief Magistrate Court also remanded one Austin Obaje in the same correctional centre for alleged impersonation, extortion and fraud.
Obaje was dragged before the Chief Magistrate Court for consistently using the name of DSS to defraud the public.
He was said to have fraudulently obtained the sum of three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) from Dr Simeon Oyigun Omakoju who is the Chairman, Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch (A community security outfit) under the false pretence that, he was sent by the Kogi State Director, State Security Service, Mr Tosin Ajayi; thereby committing an offence of cheating by impersonating, punishable under Section 322 of Kogi State Penal Code.
“And that the accused person also committed extortion by deliberately putting one Dr Simeon Oyigun Omakoju, the Chairman Kogi East Neighbourhood watch), in fear of death to wit: that the Immediate Past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has sent assassin and kidnappers to eliminate him and thereby dishonestly induced the said Simeon Oyigun Omakoji yo deliver various amount of money amounting to two Million naira (N2m) to avoid being kidnap or kill, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 294 of Kogi State penal code.
The Prosecution counsel, Yahaya Olarewaju orally applied for the remand of the accused person pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The Defence Counsel, William Alewo urged the court to grant the defendant bail, noting that the accused will not jump bail or interfere in the investigation.
But the Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah in his ruling remanded the accused person in the Custody of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till 9th May 2024 for hearing.