Court orders remand of NSCDC officers over alleged robbery

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja has ordered the remand of a 27-year-old female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amarachukwu Asonta and her colleague, Adebayo Ajayi, 32, in a correctional facility over the alleged armed robbery.

The judge made the order after they pleaded not guilty to a two counts charge of conspiracy and armed robbery filed against them by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The Director of the Lagos State (DPP), Dr Jide Martins, said the NSCDC officers and others at large committed the offences at 2.20 am on January 30, 2018, along Yaya Abatan Road, Ogba, Lagos armed with guns and other offensive weapons highjacked an Iveco container truck with registration no – LSR746XD.

He said the truck contained 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitters drinks valued at N2.7 million, waybills, mobile phones and an unspecified amount of cash.

The prosecution prayed the court to remand the suspects at the Correctional Centre.

He said the defendant are officers of the NSCDC and have been evading the court before the court issued a bench warrant for their arrest. “The first defendant (Asonta) had to be arrested with the aid of the NSCDC,” the prosecution said.

Their offences are said to be contrary to Sections 297(2)(b) and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

In his response, the defence counsel, Mr. Dapo Daramola told the court that he had filed an application for the bail of the defendants.

But, Justice Oyindamola Ogala subsequently ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Correctional Centre and adjourned the hearing of their bail application to February 23, 2022. (The Guardian)