Armed robbery suspects get N2m bail

An FCT High court in Gudu has granted bail in the sum of N1 million each to two alleged armed robbers.

Adejo Mohammed, 27 and Abdul Garba, 32, were arraigned by the FCT police on July 18, 2017 on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and robbery, offences punishable with death.

The prosecutor, Ephraim Seyi, had told the court that the Commissioner of Police in the FCT was informed through intelligence report of a hideout of robbers in Lugbe Area on June 4, 2017 and dispatched a team of policemen to arrest the hoodlums at the hideout from where they had set out to rob people.

He said the two defendants were arrested during the raid while one other suspect ran away, adding that during the search by the police, a pistol with two live cartridges was recovered in the possession of Mohammed.

The defendants, however pleaded not guilty to the charge and on December 11, 2017 they applied for bail through their counsel, Barrister Osborne Chukwudi.

At the yesterday, resumed hearing, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, in her ruling on their bail application ordered the defendants to produce two sureties each in like sum.

The judge said that both sureties must be reasonable and responsible citizens residing in the FCT.

She also directed the DPO to verify the addresses of the sureties and confirm from neighbours whether or not they are persons of good character.

Justice Banjoko said the defendants were admitted to bail because the prosecution did not oppose the motion for their bail filed by their counsel and adjourned the matter to Feb. 13 for hearing.