Court remands 2 NSCDC officers for alleged armed robbery

An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday remanded Amarachukwu Asonta, a 27-year-old female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and her colleague, Adebayo Ajayi, 32, for alleged armed robbery.

Reports state that Justice Oyindamola Ogala ordered the remand of the duo following their not guilty plea to a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The charges were proffered against the duo by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

According the Director of the Lagos State DPP, Dr Jide Martins, the NSCDC officers committed the offences at 2.20 a.m. on Jan. 30, 2018, along Yaya Abatan Road, Ogba, Lagos.

“The defendants and others who are now at large, while armed with guns and other offensive weapons high jacked an Iveco container truck with registration number – LSR746XD.

“The truck contained 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitters drinks valued at N2.7million, waybills, mobile phones and unspecified amount of cash,” the DPP said.

Following the arraignment of the NSCDC officers, the DPP requested that the defendants should be remanded at the Correctional Centre.

“My lord, the matter has been on since 2018. The defendants are officers of the NSCDC. They have been evading the court and the court issued a bench warrant for their arrest.

“The first defendant (Asonta) had to be arrested with the aid of the NSCDC,” Martins said.

The offences contravene Sections 297(2) (b) and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Following the submission of the DPP, the defence counsel, Mr Dapo Daramola, informed the court that he had filed an application for the bail of the defendants.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala ordered the remand of the defendants at the Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until Feb. 23 for the hearing of the bail application.