Court remands 13 over alleged breaking in, robbery

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of 13 men charged with breaking in and robbery.

The defendants are: Lekan Shobande, 20; Wasiu Babatunde, 35; Lukmon Jinadu, 38; Femi Omotayo, 31; Azeez Taiwo, 23; Sulaimon Sauban, 30; Sunday Soaga, 25; Adewale Adebayo, 30.

Others are: Chidi Omike, 36; Abass Ogundiran, 26; Rotimi Odeleye, 35; Tella Adegboyegba, 26; and Rufai Kehinde, 27.

The Magistrate Mrs A.S Odusanya, who did not take the defendants’ pleas, directed the police to send the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Odusanya ordered that the defendants should be kept in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the DPP’s advice.

She adjourned the case until March 18.

The defendants are being tried for conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society, arming self with dangerous weapons, damage, burglary and robbery.

The prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi, told the court that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences on Feb. 8 at Dalemo, Alakuko, Lagos.

He said the defendants, who belonged to an unlawful society called ‘Black Axe’ confraternity, armed themselves with dangerous weapons and robbed innocent citizens of their valuables.

“The defendants entered into a pharmacy belonging to Dom-Sema, damaged window glass and door glass valued at N150, 000 and also stole N150, 000.

“They broke into the shop of Mrs Oluwaseyi Akinrotimi, stole a generator, eight packs of Pepsi plastic drinks, recharge cards and perfume all totalling N104, 000.

“The defendants unlawfully entered the office of Mr Adeniyi Jegede, carted away two laptops, one generator and a GOTV decoder, all valued at N195, 000.

“They stole 55 crates of different brands of beer and soft drinks worth N250, 000, property of Mrs Adeola Akala.

“They also attacked and assaulted Mr Kayode Samson and robbed him of his N20, 000 phone,” Ajaye told the court.

He said the defendants damaged the front glass of Mr Dele Olufemi shop and the window glass of Mr Abayomi Rojugbokan’s shop, which would cost N16, 000 and N20, 000 respectively to repair.

He said the police, who received a distress call, stormed the scene and arrested the defendants.

He added that six cutlasses, a butcher knife and an axe were recovered from them.

The prosecutor noted that the offences violate sections 42, 297, 309, 312, 350 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Reports state that Section 297 prescribes 21years’ imprisonment for robbery while section 309 attracts seven years for breaking in