By Deborah Akpede
Ikeja – A 22-year-old unemployed man, Jackson Bassey, charged with robbing residents of a community, was on Monday in Lagos remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
When the case was mentioned, Magistrate Mrs S.K. Matepo refused to take the plea of the accused.
Matepo ordered that the accused should be kept behind bars pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Bassey, who resides at Awoyaya, Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy, robbery and stealing.
The accused committed the offences on Aug.13 at Lekki, Lagos, the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo told the court.
Odugbo said that the accused and others, who had yet to be apprehended, conspired to rob residents of Paseda St., Lekki.
“The accused came at night and dispossessed occupants of the street of their valuables at gun-point.
“The street security guard, who heard people shouting `thief, help’ called his colleagues in other streets.
“The guards rushed to the scene, caught the accused, while others escaped with some of the stolen items.
“A toy gun, two stolen phones and eight SIM cards of different telecommunication networks were recovered from the accused.
“The accused was handed over to the police,’’ the prosecutor said.
The offences violated Sections 287, 297 and 411of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while section 297 attracts 21 years for robbery.
The case was adjourned until Nov. 7 for mention.
