The crowded courtroom at Ogudu Magistrates’ Court fell silent on Tuesday as two young men, Chikodili Emmanuel and Sunday Jude, were led into the dock to face charges of armed robbery.
The defendants, Emmanuel, 25, and Jude, 21, are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and robbery.
The police prosecutor, Insp Sunday Bassey, told the court that the defendants, along with two others still at large, committed the offences on Sept. 9 at about 10.10 p.m., at Mile 12 Bridge, Lagos.
He stated that the defendants were allegedly robbing commuters of their mobile phones on Mile 12 Bridge before they were intercepted by a patrol team of the Command Tactical Squad, Isheri/Magodo.
Bassey said the squad, led by Insp Ayogu Evaristus, was on routine patrol when they spotted four men attacking passers-by.
“The moment the suspects saw us, they took to their heels. We gave chase; two escaped into the night, but we apprehended these two,” he said.
Bassey said the offences contravened Sections 297 and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.A Daodu, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two responsible sureties each in like sum.
She ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relative with evidence of tax payment.
The case was adjourned until Oct.17 for further mention.