The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned seven suspected members of a robbery gang before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Yaba area of the state.

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, the 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 16 drums of Starlight, 96 Core Optic Fibre Cables valued N80,000,000 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 three sureties in like sum.

The court also granted the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with three sureties in like sum and three years tax clearance.

While the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th were admitted to bail but they were all to report on every 2nd and 4th Mondays at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos.

Chief Magistrate Nwaka while reviewing the case file said 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 2nd and 3rd defendants should 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.

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Barrister O.O. Ogunleye appeared for the complainant as counsel holding watching brief.

The charge read: “That you Blessing Felix Onyema ‘F’, Sunday Alabogu ‘M’, Sylvester Nwajagu and others still at large on the 20th day of June, 2022 at about 0150hrs at Spenser Street, off Murtala Mohammed Way, Yaba, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District did unlawfully conspired amongst yourselves 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.

“That you Blessing Felix Onyema,(F) Sunday Alabogu ‘M’, Sylvester Nwelagu and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did armed yourselves with guns and robbed sixteen drums of Starlight 96 Core Optic Fibre Cables valued N80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira)property of Jus Partners Cosmopolitan Ltd. and thereby committed an offence contrary to 296 and punishable under Section 297(1)(2}(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

“That you Blessing Felix Onyema ‘F’, Sunday Alabogu ‘M’, Sylvester Nwajagu and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did attempt to unlawfully kill Emmanuel Bassey ‘M and Abel Uko Endurance ‘M’ by tying and threatening them with a gun thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 230(1) and punishable under Section 230(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2035.

“That you Celestine Nnailo ‘M’, Obinna Onu ‘M’, Sylvester Nwajagu, Onyedike Vincent, Odo Vincent Chinedu and others still at large on the 20th day Of June 2022 between the hours of 0700hrs to 1000hrs at Shibir: Ojo in Lagos Magisterial District did dishonestly receive sixteen drums of Starlight 96 Co Fibre Cables valued N80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira) from one Sunda Alabogu ‘M’ and Blessing Felix Onyema ‘F’ knowing to be stolen property of Ju Partners Cosmopolitan Ltd and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sectio 528 and punishable under Section 328 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

“That you Celestine Nnailo ‘M’, Obirna Onu ‘M’, Sylvester Nwajagu Onyedike Vincent, Odo Vincent Chinedu and others still at large on the 20th day of June 2022 between the hours of 0700hrs to 1000hrs at Shibiri Ojo in Lago Magisterial District did dishonestly receive sixteen drums of Starlight 96 Cor. Optic Fibre Cables something reasonably suspected to have been stolen thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 329 and punishable under Section 329(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

The Star