On Wednesday, a Jimeta Chief Magistrate Court ordered the remand of three fishermen and two businesswomen at the correctional centre for allegedly conspiring and stealing fish.

Aminu Mohammed, 27, Yauba Musa, 25, Abubakar Mohammed, 31, Halima Musa, 21 and Amira Sani, 23, all of Gerio Village, Yola, are standing trial before Chief Magistrate Awamem Fwa.

The police charged the five defendants with criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation, theft, causing grievous harm and being in possession of stolen properties.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Fwa ordered that the accused be remanded in prison until February 7, for further investigation into the matter by the police.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Emmanuel Paul, told the court that Abdulrazak Abubakar, Chairman, Gerio River Fish Basin, Yola, reported the matter at Jambutu police station on January 27.

He alleged that on the said date, the first, second and third defendants criminally conspired and trespassed into the Gerio River Fish Basin holding knives, cutlasses and baskets.

He said that the defendants stole many roasted and fresh fish owned by various businessmen and women in the community.

The prosecutor said while the two defendants were about to escape, the security man, Haruna Jada, raised the alarm but was beaten and injured by the defendants.

The police prosecutor said that during the police investigation, the fourth and fifth accused persons were found in possession of the stolen fish.

He said the offence contravened sections 79, 60, 333, 276, and 288 of the penal code law of the Adamawa 2018.

After they all pleaded not guilty to the offence, the prosecutor objected to the accused persons’ bail.

He noted that the case was still under police investigation, and granting the defendants bail at this stage would jeopardise the investigation process.

The chief magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded in the correctional centre and adjourned until February 7 for a hearing.

(NAN)