N80m Property Theft: Lagos DPP Establishes Armed Robbery Case Against Seven Suspects

Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has established an armed robbery case against suspected members of a robbery gang who were previously arraigned in a Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba , Lagos.

The DPP, in a legal opinion to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Department of Finance and Administration, Area 2 Command Headquarters, stated that after careful analysis of the facts contained in duplicate record, defendants; Blessing Felix Onyema (F), Sunday Alabogu, Sylvester Nwajagu (M), Celestine Nnailo (M), Obinna Onu (M), Onyedika Vincent (M) and Odo Vincent Chinedu, have a case to answer.

The DPP Opinion which was presented in court and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of Lagos State, Dr. Babajide Martins on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State , said a prima facie case had been established against some of the defendants.

During the proceedings, the prosecutor informed the court that the legal opinion of the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated that the defendants had arguments to answer and that the trial court was not not competent in the matter.< /p>

The DPP notice stated that: "I am requested to acknowledge receipt of your letter with reference number CB 3514/ZN 2/X/LEGAL/Z2MU/VOL01/182 dated August 19, 2022 and file in accompanying duplicate forwarded this Office of Legal Advice.

"After careful consideration of the facts contained in the duplicate record, this office is of the opinion that sufficient facts exist to establish offenses of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery: contrary to Sections 299 and 297(2) of the Criminal Law, Ch C.17, Vol.3, Laws of L Lagos State, 2015 v Page B9 – Sunday Alabogu (M), Page B12 – Sylvester Nwajagu, and PAGE B16 – Felix Onyema Receiving stolen property contrary to Section 328 of the Criminal Law against PAGE B5 - Nnailo Celestine & PAGE B9 - Onu Obinna, while transferring the proceeds of crime to an agent is contrary to Section 333 of the criminal law against PAGE 87 - Blessing Felix,” the notice said.

The Nigeria Police Zone 2 Command Headquarters had arraigned the suspects before Chief Magistrate P.E. Nwaka, sitting in Yaba, Lagos.

During the arraignment, prosecution attorney Williams Ologun told the court that the suspects unlawfully conspired with each other to commit a crime namely robbery and thereby committed an offense to the contrary in Section 299 and punishable under Section 297(2)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.

He informed the court that the gun suspects allegedly stole sixteen drums of Starlight, 96 Core Optic Fiber Cables worth N80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira) property of Jus Partners Cosmopolitan Limited and allegedly thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Section 297(1), 2(a) and (b) of the Lagos State Nigeria Criminal Law 2015.

Deciding on their bail applications, Chief Magistrate Nwaka, admitted the first defendant to post bail in the amount of N200,000 with three bails of a similar sum.

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The court also granted the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants bail in the amount of N500,000 with sureties of a similar amount and three years tax clearance.

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While 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are eligible for bail, they must all report every 2nd and 4th Monday at Zone 2 Onikan Lagos.

Chief Magistrate Nwaka, when reviewing the case, said the only connection between the first defendant and the entire prosecution was that funds had been received in his Zenith bank account and that they were proceeds of crime.

However, the court did not accept the plea of ​​the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants because the court has no jurisdiction in the matter.

Lawyer O.O. Ogunleye appeared for plaintiff as counsel on a watch warrant.