Man arraigned for impersonating a police officer

A man the police in Lagos alleged had been parading himself as a police officer with a view to defrauding unsuspecting members of the public was yesterday brought before an Isolo chief magistrate’s court, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Mr Oje Uagbale, told the court that the accused, Christopher Akpan, 32, had presented himself as the Area Commander of the Area F Command to one Abbas Mohammed.

Uagbale said that while impersonating, Akpan took away a motorcycle belonging to Mohammed under the pretence he had impounded it over a yet-to- be ascertained traffic offence.

The accused was said to be, at the time of the incident, in possession of complementary cards bearing his photograph and addressing himself as Assistant Commissioner of Police Habiba Joshak, Area Commander of Area F Command, on special operations.

“The accused later sold the motorcycle to one Isiaka Abdullahi. Abdullahi was arrested by policemen attached to the Ilasamaja Division and led a team of investigators to Akpan’s hideout on Bayolomidi Street, Ilasamaja.

Akpan was also immediately arrested,” the prosecutor said.

Akpan and Abdullahi were both charged before the Isolo magistrate’s court on a threecount charge of impersonation, conspiracy and stealing. They pleaded not guilty. The presiding magistrate, Mrs O.A. Teluwo, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.

The matter has been adjourned till May 5, 2018.