By Kayode Olabanji
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Four accused persons,Omoare Toyin, 27, Felix Ejechi 34, Fayehun Olusoji 28, and Mapayi Taye 30, have been dragged before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Oke Eda in the Akure Magisterial District over alleged armed robbery.
The accused persons who were brought before Chief Magistrate (Mrs) Victoria Bob-Manuel were facing a 13-count charge of conspiracy, felony to wit armed robbery, impersonation, forgery, making charms, breach of peace and threat.
According to the charge sheet, the accused and others at large were alleged to have on the 30th day of April and 18th day of July, 2018 at night time at Ijoka Road, Akure/Sabo, Ore within the jurisdiction of the court while armed with guns, cutlasses, charms and other weapons attacked and robbed the following people of their properties; Olajide Samuel(m) of the following items,49inches LG plasma television set, a cash sum of #40,000, Jewelries, wristwatch, Maltonic drink, wine, clothes and other valuable properties valued at about #350,000, Gbenga Babatomi (m),of a cash sum of fifty thousand naira(#50,000) after inflicting machete cuts on him and Alhaji Isiaka Zakaria (m), of his Nokia handset valued at about forty thousand naira(#40,000).
One of the accused, Omoare Toyin, on this same date, place and time was alleged to have unlawfully received one 49inches LG plasma television set from Rotimi Adeyeye, and Bukola Adeoye A. K. A (agbara), now deceased, knowing same to have been stolen.
It was also gathered from the charge that Omoare and Mapayi Taye, on the 2nd day of July 2018, at night time knowingly sheltered Rotimi Adeyeye, an armed robbery suspect who escaped from the lawful custody of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Akure, by giving him a room which he spent a night before escaping to Ore, he also escaped Bukola Adeoye A. K. A(Agbara)now deceased from ( FSARS) Akure.
The accused Mapayi, was also alleged to have impersonated himself as a lawyer with Nigeria Bar Association, Ondo State chapter and makes false documents in the name of O. A Ajanaku & Association (Justice chamber)109, Oyemekun road, Akure.
The accused also threatened one Loveth Ogbu (f) the girl friend of Rotimi, that he will kill her if she leaks the secret of the escape of Rotimi, an armed robbery suspect who escaped from the lawful custody of (FSARS) to any person or the police.
The alleged offences were said to be contrary to and punishable under Sections 6(a)&(b), 1,2(a)&(b), 5, 4(1), of the Robbery and Firearm (Special Provision) Act Cap. R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and sections 136(1), 108(1) (2), 467, 213(a), 249(a), 86(1) and 519 of the Criminal Code Cap 35 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
Plea was not taken from the accused persons when the charge was read to them.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Sulaiman Abdulateef, urged the court to remand the accused persons in Olokuta prison custody to enable the court send the duplicate of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
He prayed the court for an adjournment pending the outcome of the legal advice from the DPP’s Office.
Counsel to the 2nd accused person, Barrister Leo Okoye, on behalf of other counsels did not oppose the remand application made by the prosecutor.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-manuel, ordered the remand of the four defendants in Olokuta prison custody pending the issuance of the legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecution.
She said both the original and the duplicate of the case file should be handed over to the court clerk by the prosecutor.
The clerk of the court was mandated to dispatch the original case file to the office of the Chief Registrar, Ondo State judiciary for safe keeping and to send the duplicate to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice without delay.
She thereafter adjourned the case till October 2, 2018 for a review.
