A Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State on Friday ordered the remand of four youths in prison custody over alleged armed robbery.
Umar Danjuma, Shehu Abdul, Mohammed Suleiman and Yunusa Abubakar were all docked on three counts of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The Police Prosecutor, ASP Daniel Ikwoche, told the court that the accused persons were arrested on Jan. 30 after police stormed a criminal hideout in Kpakungu, Minna following a
tip-off.
Ikwoche noted that investigations showed that the accused persons were in the habit of terrorising and robbing people of the area of their laptops and handsets, while armed with cutlasses and knives.
According to him, they were also found in possession of dry leaves, reasonably suspected to be Indian hemp.
He said the offences contravened Sections 97 and 298 of the Penal Code Law and Section 5(2b) of the Indian Hemp Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.
When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.
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The presiding magistrate, Nasiru Muazu, however, declined to take their plea as his court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Muazu directed the police to forward the case file to the Niger State Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), for legal advice.
He ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter until Feb. 28 for further mention.
NAN
