A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has remanded three suspected thieves who terrorised student communities in the Adakolo, Felele, Bassa Village, and Crusher suburb areas of the Kogi State capital.
They were arrested in connection with the recent attacks on the student-populated communities and the dispossessing of valuables such as smartphones, computers, and other items.
The suspects, Abbas Salisu, Gimba Ibrahim, and Mamud Lawal Kwara, who had earlier confessed to having stolen 33 phones, were arraigned by the Department of State Services before the Chief Magistrate Court in Lokoja on Tuesday.
The Prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Yahaya, filed four count charges bothering on criminal conspiracy, theft of phones valued at One Million Naira, dishonestly receiving stolen properties, and belonging to a gang of thieves that were stealing the belongings of students of Kogi State Polytechnic and Federal University Lokoja before the Chief Magistrate Court urged the court to remand the accused persons at the Koton Karfe Medium Custodian center pending the investigation and hearing of the case.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, the trial Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, remanded the suspects in Koto Karfe custodial center and adjourned the case until 9th May 2024 for hearing.
Similarly, the Chief Magistrate Court has remanded one Austin Obaje in Koton-Karfe Medium Correctional Centre for allegedly impersonating, extortion, and fraud.
Obaje was dragged before the Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly and consistently using the name of the Department of State Services to defraud the unsuspecting public.
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Obaje was brought to court on charges that he had fraudulently obtained the sum of three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) from Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji under the false pretense that he was sent by the State Director, State Security Service, Mr. Tosin Ajayi.
Austin was also said to have committed extortion by deliberately putting one Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji in fear of death, to wit, that the Immediate Past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had sent assassins and kidnappers to eliminate him.
The Defense Counsel, William Alewo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare to defend his case, noting that the accused will not jump bail or interfere in the investigation.
The Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Mopah, in ruling, remanded the accused person in the Custody of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until 9th May 2024 for hearing and continuation.
