A chief magistrates’ court in Lokoja on Tuesday remanded three robbery suspects for allegedly attacking and dispossessing students of their belongings in Kogi.

The suspects were arrested and arraigned for terrorising the student communities of Adakolo, Felele, Bassa Village and Crusher suburb areas of Lokoja, the confluence city.

On March 23 and 25, students of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) were attacked by hoodlums who dispossessed them of their valuables, such as smartphones, computers and other items.

The three suspects—Abbas Salisu, Gimba Ibrahim and Mamud Lawal Kwara—were arraigned by the State Security Service (SSS).

The suspects had earlier confessed to having stolen 33 phones during interrogation by the SSS before their arrangement at the court in Lokoja.

The prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Yahaya, filed four counts of criminal conspiracy, theft of phones valued at N1 million, and dishonestly receiving stolen property.

The charge also includes belonging to a gang of thieves stealing the belongings of students of Kogi State Polytechnic and Federal University Lokoja.

The prosecution counsel urged the court to remand the accused persons at the Koton Karfe Medium Custodian Centre, pending the investigation and hearing of the case.

The trial chief magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, remanded the suspects in Koton Karfe Custodial Centre after pleading not guilty to the charges.

The case was thereafter adjourned till May 9 for a hearing.

Similarly, the chief magistrate court remanded one Austin Obaje in Koton-Karfe Centre for alleged impersonation, extortion and fraud.

Mr Obaje was dragged before the court for allegedly and consistently using the name of the SSS to defraud the unsuspecting public.

He was brought to court on charges that he had fraudulently obtained N300,000 from one Simeon Omakoji under the false pretence that he was sent by the state director of SSS, Tosin Ajayi.

Mr Obaje was also said to have committed extortion by deliberately putting one Mr Omakoji, in fear of death to wit, that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had sent assassins and kidnappers to eliminate him.

The defence counsel, William Alewo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare to defend his case, noting that he will not jump bail or interfere in the investigation.

The chief magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, in his ruling, remanded the defendant in the custody of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till May 9 for hearing and continuation. 

(NAN)