The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Court sentences man to death for robbery

    Court sentences man to death for robbery

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has sentenced a man, Aanu Adu, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

    Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi yesterday held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, based on the evidence before the court.

    The judge also sentenced Adu to two years each on two counts of malicious damage to property in the offence committed at Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area on October 28, 2015.

    Adu was charged with criminal armed robbery, contrary to Section 402(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C16, Vol. 1, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    He was also found guilty of malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 451 of the same laws.

    The convict was alleged to have robbed Adeleye Funmilayo of N650,000 belonging to Ogunniyi Titilayo and damaged a digital camera belonging to Adeyemi Idowu.

    Titilayo told the court that Adu brought out a gun and threatened to kill her when she went to his house to press for the release of the N650,000 cash he and one unnamed chief forcefully collected from Funmilayo.

    The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Gbemiga Adaramola, appeared for the state while the Adu was represented by his counsel, Bunmi Olugbade.

    Titilayo said the robbery was reported at Ilawe Police Station while she took photographs of her banana, which Adu destroyed.

    Eight witnesses were called during the trial while exhibits, such as a cutlass, a cable wire, a brown bag containing the cash, money wrapper, used MTN cards, a search warrant and the carcass of the damaged camera, were tendered.

     

  • Imo Police arrest 36 kidnap, robbery suspects

    Imo Police arrest 36 kidnap, robbery suspects

    No fewer than 36 suspected kidnappers armed robbers have been arrested by the Imo Police Command.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who paraded the suspects at the state’s Police Headquarters yesterday, assured that the offensive against criminal elements in the state will be sustained until heinous criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said that apart from tracking down kidnap and armed robbery syndicates, the command will also initiate massive onslaught against cult groups who had taken delight in harassing and maiming innocent residents of the state.

    Describing cultism as the ‘root’ of other criminal activities, Ezike, said that cultists would be traced to their classrooms, hostels and homes, where he vowed they would be apprehended to face the law, even after escaping they might have escaped from the scene of crime.

    “I am delighted this morning as we showcase our modest achievements in crime management in Imo State since my last parade of suspects in April. Permit me to mention however, that we have also in between the period made public some arrests and recoveries which we thought were very urgent importance.

    “As we approach the second half of 2017, the Command expects increased business activities and human relationships in Imo State. These activities come with its good, bad and ugly baggage. We must therefore continuously be on the red alert so that the less than seven per cent of criminal elements in our midst do not cause us avoidable pains”.

    Continuing, he said: “Consequently in the coming weeks and months, our tactical operational focus shall be to sustain the momentum in the current operation of identification, arrest, detention and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and other notorious criminals.

    “To commence the urgent vetting and profiling of communities, organizations, hotels that have shown uncommon notoriety in the provision of safe haven and passages for armed robbers and kidnappers with a view to holding their leadership and owners accountable for their acts or omissions . “To sustain high visibility policing as a crime prevention measure and employ forensic technology as a fundamental aid to criminal investigation and detection and to expand the frontiers of Police/community partnership through strategic communication and relationship that will continue to stimulate our whistle blowing policy”.

    Ezike attributed the success recorded within the time under review to “the workability of our whistle blowing policy which has encouraged the residents of Imo state to expose criminality and other vices that torment our society, renewed partnership with all segments of the Imo community and good inter-agency cooperation and collaboration, as well as the commitment and renewed zeal of the personnel of Imo Police Command, using intelligence-led policing platforms and high visibility policing models to achieve efficiency and effectiveness”.

    Some of the criminals paraded include a notorious four-man kidnap gang led by a 34-year-old father of seven, which has been terrorizing residents of the state, especially around Avu community in Owerri West Council Area of the state. Others are members of a gang suspected to be responsible for the abduction of a female magistrate rescued by the Police recently, were Chima Agujo (20), Tochukwu Chima, 27, and Desmond Akano ,25. Also paraded were members of a child trafficking syndicate behind the abduction of expectant women whose babies were sold by the gang. The suspects are: Chinedu Onyeakosi, Chinaza Onyeakosi and Chidi Donatus. Also paraded were students of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) who were arrested for alleged armed robbery and cultism.

  • Cobbler gets 25 years for robbery

    An Ikeja High Court has sentenced a 25-year-old cobbler, Joseph Jericho, to 25-years in prison for stealing two laptops and three mobile phones from a student.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi found Jericho, guilty of two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    The defendant, resident of No. 14, Church Street, Ilaje, Ebute Meta, Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    But Justice Adebiyi, while sentencing Jericho on Friday, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    “The defendant is hereby sentenced to 25 years in prison each for the offences of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.

    “The sentence shall run concurrently and shall begin from the period of his remand.”

    Earlier during the trial, the defendant’s counsel, Mr S.A Aigoro, in his allocutus, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.

    “The defendant has been in prison custody since 2011, I pray that this court has mercy on him,” he said.

    According to the prosecutor, Mrs O. Ahmed-Muili, Jericho committed the offences alongside others still at large on June 26, 2011 at No. 4, Baale Street, Ilaje, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

    Jericho and his accomplices while allegedly armed with guns and cutlasses, robbed Mr Ifesinachi Ogodo, a student, of his two laptops, three mobile phones and N5,000.

    According to Ahmed-Muili, the offences were in violation of Sections 402 (2)(a) and 403 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos 2003.

  • Evans: I got gunshot scar after 2006 Lagos robbery

    Evans: I got gunshot scar after 2006 Lagos robbery

    Kidnap kingpin recants drug story

    Police go after another soldier

    Suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeje George Onwuamadike (aka Evans) has confessed that the gunshot scar on his shoulder came from the injury he sustained during a 2006 bank robbery in Lagos.

    This is contrary to his earlier claim that he got the injury during a fracas following a drug business in South Africa in 2007.

    Evans, who was confronted with a newspaper interview that indicated the scar was as a result of a gun duel between him and his gang members at the National Theatre in Surulere, Lagos Mainland,  admitted that he lied earlier.

    According to the suspect, he and his gang members robbed a bank in 2006. While sharing the loot, there was a disagreement, which led to a fight.

    He admitted that they started shooting themselves, adding that many of the robbers died. He was seriously injured and abandoned by the others.

    The kingpin also admitted that he was arrested by the police, adding that he and two others were transferred to the Imo State Police Command, where they were released.

    The officer in charge of the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said: “Evans was confronted with the interview on Sunday and he admitted that the bullet wounds are from disagreement over sharing of loot after bank robbery in Lagos in 2006. They shot one another and many gang members died while Evans survived with bullet wounds.”

    A Superintendent of Police with the Band section of the Police College in Lagos, simply identified as Tina, reportedly sought to get the case being put together against Evans after the bank robbery dropped. Her attempt was rebuffed.

    She reportedly travelled to Owerri from where a report was sent requesting the transfer of Evans to the command because of another case he was involved in, which they claimed was under investigation.

    The kingpin was quietly released inOwerri. Tina is believed to be related to Evans’ mother.

    The Nation gathered that the police were out to fish out all those who participated in the 2006 release of Evans and two of his gang members. They are to be prosecuted.

    It was also learnt that the police have begun a manhunt for another soldier said to be a member of Evans’ gang.

    The soldier whose identity is yet to be revealed, it was gathered, was attached to one of the Army formations in Lagos.

    A source said the police had the soldier’s names and pictures, adding that they would leave no stone unturned in arresting him.

    “He should have been arrested on Saturday night but we believe he might have gone into hiding after his colleague, Victor Chukwunonso, was caught. That was why the police high command did not want to release information on the arrest of Chukwunonso because there are so many others being investigated.

    “But I know he would be caught. Our bosses will simply approach army authorities with evidence and request that he be handed over to the police.

    “It is true that they have started looking for that Tina woman and many other officers who were serving at the Imo State Command at that time that Evans was released. So many heads will roll in this matter.”

  • Evans, kidnap kingpin was arrested for robbery in 2006—police

    Evans, kidnap kingpin was arrested for robbery in 2006—police

    The arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Onuamadike, a.k.a Evans, was arrested in 2006 for armed robbery where seven members of his gang died during sharing of their loot in Lagos State.

    A very reliable police source gave this revelation on Sunday as investigations on Evans past activities deepened.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Evans and his robbery gang, in 2006 attacked a commercial bank in Lagos and went somewhere around the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, to share the loot.

    It was gathered that while sharing the loot, the robbers had a disagreement and shot one another. Seven members of the gang died instantly.

    “The then Divisional Police Officer of Iponri Police Station, Yahaya Bello, now a deputy commissioner of police, said there was a serious incident involving some persons who shot at one another. He said about three of them had been arrested

    “One of the members of the gang arrested then was Chukwudi Onuamadike, popularly known as Evans. If you look at his chest, I cannot remember whether it is the right or left side, there is a scar. It was as a result of the gunshot from his gang members that day.

    “He bled and there was no way he could run away before the police came. The case was transferred to the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad. We investigated and discovered that they were armed robbers.

    “ Evans led the team. We also went to Mbidi Police Station, Imo State, to carry out an investigation on them. We were able to arrest two other members of the gang. We then had five of them in police custody.

    “There was a policewoman at the Band Section of the Police College, Lagos. She was known as Tina, a Superintendent of Police. She insisted that we should drop the case and that Onuamadike (Evans) was her brother.

    “But when she was unable to achieve her aim, she travelled to Imo State. Not long after, we got a message from the Imo State Police Command that they had been searching for Evans and asked us to transfer the case to them so they could continue from where we stopped. Since that time, we did not hear anything. We heard he was later released there,” the source said.

    The source noted that after he saw Evans pictures, he knew that he was the man they arrested alongside members of his gang in 2006, stressing, however, that Evans was not bearing the alias, Evans, at the time.

    “We identified him only as Chukwudi. Some of the persons we worked together on the case also called me to draw my attention to the fact that he was the one arrested.

    “He couldn’t have been the only person released. The request was that we should transfer the case to them. We sent him and two members of his gang to the command. There is a hotel in Okota area where they used to meet to share their loot.

    “The owner of the hotel was their friend. There was a time they robbed three banks in Alaba International Market in 2005. They also looted shops there. One of the owners of the shop complained to the police and we carried out an investigation.

    “We discovered that some of the items stolen in the man’s shop were digital cameras. We traced the cameras to the hotel and into the office of the hotel owner. It was then that ‘big men’ started calling from everywhere that we should drop the charges against them.

    “The owner of the hotel was later killed by the robbers, following a disagreement. His body was dumped by the roadside in one of the states in the East sometime ago,” the source told police investigators.

    The source expressed fear that if Evans was not properly investigated and prosecuted he can form a terrorist group being a hardened criminal; in view of the fact that he collects any ransom demanded to the last Kobo before releasing such victims.

    “The best way to handle his case is for the police to do their work. They should do a proper investigation. If it will take four months to investigate him, they should do so. He has links in South Africa, Ghana, etc.

    “ I know him. Bank robbery and hijacking of bullion vans was easy for him and his gang members. He did not hesitate to shoot any member of his gang suspected of foul play,” the source noted.

    NAN further gathered from the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team that Evans confirmed all the incidents alleged by the police source. (NAN)

  • Owerri robbery

    •Now time to quicken gratuities and other entitlements to victims’ families

    It was like a scene in a movie: a four-man gang of armed robbers trailed a customer to the Zenith Bank Plc on Weatheral Road, Owerri, Imo State, fired some shots into the air as soon as they entered the bank premises on February 22, 2017. By the time they finished the operation that lasted barely 50 seconds, they had lost one of their own while two policemen who were seriously injured during the robbery, Chukwudi Iboko and Sunday Agbo, later died in the hospital. The third, Otu Attang, survived with eye injury. Two other victims were killed in the incident.

    The good news though is that the long arm of the law has finally caught up with three suspects in connection with the robbery. Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, told newsmen at the state police command in Owerri that “In the course of investigation, three of the armed robbery suspects have been arrested as well as exhibits and vehicles. They are, “Justice Ogbonna, male, aged 36 years, aka (JJ)   Abiye Charles, male, Okechukwu Nwanegbo, male, aka modestus.”

    Even as the suspects await their day in court, we commend the police for fishing them out more than three months after the robbery, the video of which went spiral about two weeks ago. If the court eventually finds the suspects guilty, it would confirm that indeed, no matter how long it takes, criminals will always account for their actions and that crime does not pay.

    Zenith Bank had in April paid the widows of the slain police officers N1.2million each for their upkeep and N300,000 each for burial expenses. In addition, the bank awarded scholarships to the policemen’s children and pledged additional N60,000 monthly stipend each to them. We commend the bank for this kind gestures and hope it would keep to its promise.

    We also praise the Punch Newspaper and social activists, led by Kayode Ogundamisi, who reacted to the clarion calls of many Nigerians to launch a GoFundMe account to raise money for the widow and children of the late Sergeant Iboko. Nigerians demonstrated that truly, they are their brother’s keeper by donating generously to the fund. As Ogundamisi noted while giving his widow’s mite of $150, “…We saw the bravery of our police officers on social media; we have criticised them a lot of times but Chukwudi’s gallantry represents a number of unseen heroes in the police force”.

    We however seize this opportunity to implore the Nigeria Police Force to fast-track the process of collection of gratuities and other entitlements to dependants of policemen who die on active service. We are not particularly happy that it took the wife of one of the officers who displayed uncommon gallantry during the robbery, Sergeant Iboko, to cry out for help weeks after the unfortunate incident that turned her to a widow for the police authorities to recommend the two policemen for post-humous promotion, even as their third colleague, Attang, would also be promoted.

    Mrs. Iboko’s case is particularly pathetic because she also lost her five-year-old son who slumped and died during the lying-in-state of his father apparently because he could not stand the shock. Even when their breadwinner was around, things were tough for the family. As she said, the children not only skipped meals but had dropped out of school due to their parents’ inability to pay their school fees. Indeed, the man had raised their hope that he would settle some of these debts when he returned over the weekend. He never did.

    The least the police authorities could do in a situation like this is to facilitate the process of compensating dependants of policemen who died in the course of duty. Showing such little kindness when it matters most will go a long way to motivate serving officers that even in the event of the unexpected, their dependants will have something to fall back on.

  • Alfa bags 14 years jail for attempted robbery

    An Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced an Islamic cleric, Alfa Taofeek Olawale, to 14 years inprisonment for attempted robbery.

    Justice Raliat Adebiyi held that the prosecution had proved its case against the convict.

    The convict was arraigned in 2012 on a two-count charge of robbery and attempted robbery.

    He was acquitted of the robbery charge, which the prosecution did not prove.

    During the trial, Olawale said he had been an Arabic teacher at Lakowe in Ibeju Lekki since 1997.

    He said he also treated people suffering from spiritual attacks.

    The convict, who pleaded not guilty, said he had gone to Lakowe Junction on May 6, 2012 to offer sacrifices on behalf of a client.

    “I live with my girlfriend at Lakowe. On the day of the incident around midnight, I had gone to the T-Junction at Lakowe dressed in a white Jalabiya to offer sacrifices on behalf of my client who was suffering from leg pains and also spiritual problems.

    He said he had told his client to bring a goat which parts were to be used for sacrifice.

    “It was while I was chanting spiritual incantations that someone suddenly appeared with a cutlass and struck me on the head. I lost consciousness only to wake up and find myself in the General Hospital on Lagos Island,” he said.

    But, the complainant, Mr Jephthah Ekwueme, who was the only prosecution witness, said he was lying on his bed on the incident day when some people flashed torchlight through his window.

    Ekwueme said the person told me he was an armed robber and commanded him to open the door.

    “I heard more than one voice commanding me to open the door to my apartment and telling me that they were armed robbers. I grabbed a cutlass and swung it through the window and it hit one of them. They thereafter took their heels.

    “I quickly opened the door and shouted for assistance from my neighbours. I pursued one of them who happened to be the defendant I had injured with the cutlass. I noticed that he was wearing a long white garment.

    “He jumped over the fence into the next compound and I followed him there. I managed to subdue him until the police arrived,” he testified.

    Justice Adebiyi upheld the complaint’s evidence, which she noted was corroborated by the defendant who admitted that he was wearing a white Jalabiya on the fateful night.

    The convict, she said, was also caught at the crime scene and was identified by the witness who is also the victim.

    In his allocutus, counsel to the convict, Mr Worer Oduagbaka pleaded with the trial judge to temper justice with mercy.

    Oduagbaka said the convict, who is still in his youth, was a first time offender, adding that if given a second chance, he could still be useful to the society.

  • Robbery: Car hire to the rescue

    I get called upon a lot at odd hours because of the nature of my job,” said a resident of Karu, one of the satellite towns of the nation’s capital. “But my experience with the cabs that I take has taught me to be more security-conscious. At one occasion, I was robbed and thrown out of a moving vehicle and another time, I had to fight two men off from robbing me.”

    For her, car hire is the answer. She picks the car, pays and proceeds on her trip peacefully, keeping the rogues at bay.

    Joy Michael, a student of the University of Abuja, prefers the car hire service for some different reasons, one of which comfort and status symbolism.

    “Most vehicles used for this present-day hire service are clean and nice, with air conditioning, unlike those taxis that can be so rusted you will be scared it might injure you.”

    Co-founder of MotionPlus Logistics Ltd, one of the car hire services taking over Abuja, Ayobamidele Mohammed explained that customers can now book for taxis that are affordable, equipped with wifi service from the comfort of their homes.

    He said, “With emphasis on riders’ safety and comfort while on board our vehicles, Motionplus offers GPS satellite controlled vehicles, 24 hours security tracking surveillance system, and a long term plan to deploy 24 hours CCTV monitor in all vehicles. We ensure that all drivers are professionals who have the requisite years of driving experience.

    Commuters who have been roughened up and robbed before will consider the alternatives, provided the little matter of cost is not a put-off.

  • Four policemen killed in Osun varsity town robbery

    Armed robbers struck in Iwo, Osun State yesterday, killing four police men in a raid of banks near Bowen University, one of the foremost private universities in the country, owned by the Baptist Convention.

    The robbers, who reportedly operated for about one hour, came in four vehicles, laid a siege to the financial institutions and carted away unspecified amount of cash at the bank branches.

    It was learnt that they killed the policemen, who were protecting the banks in the process.

    However, one of the bandits was killed by the police team.

    Also, two customers and a bank worker were among the injured.

    It was gathered that the robbery tok place shortly before 4.pm when the banks were rounding off the day’s operation.

    The bandits reportedly used explosives to blow open the banks’ security doors to gain access into the banking halls.

    It was also learnt that the bandits had earlier stopped at Iwo Divisional Police Station and destroyed the Armoured Personnel Carrier 9APC) in the premises.

    It was learnt that Commissioner of Police Adeoye Olafimihan led a team of policemen to the scene of the robbery but police spokesperson Folasade Odoro, could not be reached  to speak on  the robbery.

     

  • Robbery: Car hire to the rescue

    I get called upon a lot at odd hours because of the nature of my job,” said a resident of Karu, one of the satellite towns of the nation’s capital. “But my experience with the cabs that I take has taught me to be more security-conscious. At one occasion, I was robbed and thrown out of a moving vehicle and another time, I had to fight two men off from robbing me.”

    For her, car hire is the answer. She picks the car, pays and proceeds on her trip peacefully, keeping the rogues at bay.

    Joy Michael, a student of the University of Abuja, prefers the car hire service for some different reasons, one of which comfort and status symbolism.

    “Most vehicles used for this present-day hire service are clean and nice, with air conditioning, unlike those taxis that can be so rusted you will be scared it might injure you.”

    Co-founder of MotionPlus Logistics Ltd, one of the car hire services taking over Abuja, Ayobamidele Mohammed explained that customers can now book for taxis that are affordable, equipped with wifi service from the comfort of their homes.

    He said, “With emphasis on riders’ safety and comfort while on board our vehicles, Motionplus offers GPS satellite controlled vehicles, 24 hours security tracking surveillance system.”

    Commuters who have been roughened up and robbed before will consider the alternatives, provided the little matter of cost is not a put-off.