By Ayodele Popoola

|

Four men alleged to be members of a ‘one-chance’ armed robbery syndicate, were on Thursday arraigned before an Akure Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly robbing passengers.

Men of the Ondo Amotekun Corps brought the defendants, including a 53-year-old electrician, Temidayo Olagundoye, before the court.

Olagundoye and his accomplices, namely Patrick Ayandeji, Felix Akinbolaji, and Ayomiposi Akinbi, were charged with a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, stealing, and obtaining by pretences.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mrs. P.O. Nwafor, told the court that the defendants committed the offences between April 29 and June 10, 2024, at different places within Akure, Ondo, and Ore Roads in the state.

Nwafor alleged that the defendants and others at large conspired and robbed their victims, who were passengers, at gunpoint with their commercial vehicle at different locations, and carted away their phones and money.

Nwofor said the one-chance syndicate, after robbing the victims, would push them out of the vehicle. And some of them in the process, sustained degrees of injuries.

According to the charge, “The defendants on April 29, at 5pm at Ore, robbed one Foluke Iwasanmi, and stole the sum of N300,000 from her.

 “Also, at 7 am on June 11, along Ore/Ondo Road, the defendants lured a woman, Precious Nwokia, inside an unregistered Golf car, under the pretence of being a commercial vehicle and robbed her of the sum of N500,000.

“On June 10, at about 4:30 pm, the defendants robbed a lady, Titilayo Abolanle, of the sum of N430,000.

“The syndicate on May 10, at F.F. area of Ondo town, while armed with a gun robbed Iyabo David of the sum of N580,000 and Onaolapo Noah of a sum of N400,000.”

Nwofor further said the defendants before robbing their victims and threatened them with death.

The offences contravened Sections 403(b), 402(b), 390 401(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

Due to the nature of the offences, the prosecution prayed the court to remand the defendants at the correctional centre pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Lawyer to the defendants, W. Akintiose faulted the prosecution’s oral application, saying it must be a motion on notice, so as to enable the defendants file a counter-affidavit to it.

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the case till June 28, to enable the prosecution file a proper remand application and for ruling.

Sekoni ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Amotekun custody pending the adjournment date.