By Onozure Dania

A 26-year-old young man, Oluwasoji Nasiru and six others were yesterday remanded in prison custody by a Lagos Magistrate’s court sitting in Ikeja over alleged attempted murder and armed robbery.   The other suspects are Oluwafemi Taiwo, 22; Tajudeen Akiju, 22; Kamoru Nurudeen, 19; Abayomi Nurudeen, 19; Ibrahim Toheeb, 19 and Gantonu Senami, 22.

The defendants who were arraigned before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, are facing three-counts charges of conspiracy, attempted murder and armed robbery brought against them by the police.   The police prosecutor, Inspector Nnamonu Eranus told the court that the defendants and others at large, committed the alleged crime in May 29, 2013, at about 4pm.

He said the incident happened at Otto Street in Ijanikin area of Lagos, where the defendants robbed and also attempted to murder one Nnamaka Okafor.  Eranus said that the defendant unlawfully shot and macheted the victim with a gun and cutlass respectively which caused him grievous harm all over his body. He also said that the defendants, armed with gun, cutlass and other dangerous weapons, robbed the victim  of N63,000 and one Black Berry torch phone valued at N45,000.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under section 5(2) (a) (b) of the robbery and firearms (special provisions) Act , Cap 398, Vol Xxii, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,2003 as amended.  It is also punishable under section 228 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

When the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty, but their plea was not taken as Magistrate Komolafe ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the director of public prosecution and adjourned the matter to July, 22, 2013.