Three robbery suspects, Abolaji Kehinde, Uche John and Tunde Jamiu have been fingered in a robbery spree unleashed on a neighbourhood of Mowo, Badagry, Lagos in 2018.
An officer of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Okafor Emeka Felix appeared on Monday before an Ikeja High Court, in Lagos, claiming that Abolaji Kehinde was among the robbers that attacked his apartment and that of his in-laws on June 14, 2018.
The officer claimed Abolaji Kehinde, was one of the robbers that robbed him, his in-laws and some neighbours of their valuables, including watches, ATM Cards, money, wallet, Insurance card, etc.
He also testified that he reported the incident to Special Anti Robbery Squad, at Mowo Police station.
He told the judge that he however recoverd his stolen phone at the station following arrest of one of the suspects by a vigilante group in his neighbourhood.
According to him, the suspect jumped over his fence into the compound and forcefully entered his home to attack him, his wife and two children.
He said, “The first noise I heard from one of them is, ‘Where is the money?’”
“I said I don’t have money. I directed them to my wardrobe. Five of them entered into my room, took my watch, phone, my wife’s watch and every belongings.
He explained that when one of the robbers saw his wallet, he ordered, “Mopol, Mopol, this one is an officer, give am one.”
He said, “One of them used a gun pointing the gun at me, at that point, my wife, my daughter were crying and saying that I should give them money.
“They used the gun head to hit me on my face, my eye prescisely with the gun and I fell on my bed and that was when they left.
A second prosecution witness who claimed to be a victim also, Mr. Ekpeyong Benedict, a Civil Engineer, narrated to Justice Oyindamola Ogala that on the day of the attack, June 14, 2018, he was at Ambassador Perkins, Mowo, Badagry.
He told the judge, “At the middle of the night, I and my family was attacked by some armed men who broke into our apartment with knives, guns, sticks and other item.
“They collected my phones, my wallet, I was told to lie down. They searched me, took me round the house, to my siblings’ room.
“My mum was present there, and one of our cousins that is physically challenged, with Down Syndrome.“
“My head was dashed to the wall, it was bleeding and they took me to my mum’s room, she was starked naked begging.
“My cousin that is physically challenged was not himself anymore, we are still trying to get him back because of the noise and how they treated him. They went with my sibling’s phone, ID Card, wallet and money.
Another prosecution witness, Adeleke Adeniyi Samuel, a veterinarian claimed that when the robbers invaded his room through the ceiling, he and his friend Adebowale Ademola refused to open the door for the intruders.
He told the judge that he was beaten and his Nokia phone, flash drive, ATM card and about N7,000 was collected from him by the robbers.
“I could remember they collected Debo’s Samsung S6 phone, his Play Station, his school bag containing some documents and his ATM card, after then they went to other neighbours to pack their jewelries.
“It was in the night I couldn’t recognise colour then, but I am so sure I saw a figure that looks like this first man, (pointing to Abolaji Kehinde). I can’t say about the other two.”
Trouble started for the defendants when the vigilante officials arrested them while sharing their loots and were handed over to the Police.
Abolaji Kehinde, 21, alongside Uche John 25 and Tunde Jamiu 25, were arrested and paraded by the Police in 2018 and are now being tried for a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and armed robbery.
According to State Prosecutor, Olawale Ijabikeh, the defendants were arraigned on November 8, 2021, on three-count charge, amongst which states, “Conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to Section 299 of the Criminal Law Chp. 13 Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“Abolaji Kehinde Tunde Jamiu, Uche John and another (now at large on the 14th day of June, 2018 at about 02:00a.m at R& B Ikoga Road Mowo, Badagry, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division conspired among themselves to commit robbery.”
