By Tayo Joseph Lagos
Two men, John Tawo, 42, and Ishaku Adoja, 48, were on Tuesday arraigned in an FCT High Court in Gudu over alleged robbery of N4 million and a Rolex wristwatch at gunpoint.
Tawo and Adoja are facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery contrary to Sections 1 and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act 2004.
The charges were read to them and they pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel, Mr Victor Okangbe told the court that the motion for bail he filed on behalf of the defendants was ripe for hearing.
“My Lord, the defendants having pleaded not guilty on the part of the defence, I had filed motion for their bail.
“I filed the application on Nov.2, and from the records of the court, the prosecution was duly served that day,’’ he said.
Okangbe said that the defendants had been in detention since June, lamenting that the prosecution was served five days ago, and that 48 hours had lapsed for the prosecution to respond.
The defence counsel told the court that Section 36 of the constitution was clear, that accused persons were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
“Liberty of the accused persons is at stake, not liberty of the police,’’ Okangbe said.
Responding, the Prosecutor, Mr Adeniyi Oyeyemi said that from the records of the court, his office was served but unfortunately he was in the hospital due to illness.
He, however, prayed the court to be given time to study the bail application and respond to same by filing a counter affidavit.
“The matter falls under robbery and firearms, not stealing. Give us an opportunity to respond,’’ Oyeyemi said.
After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Abubakar Talba said that he would not foreclose the prosecution from being heard.
He, however, adjourned hearing of motion for the bail until Nov.14, and ordered the prosecution to file in his response latest Friday, Nov.10.
According to the charges, the defendants allegedly robbed at gun point, carting away Certificates of Occupancy, which the complainant, Mr Chibudom Nwuche says have been advertised for sale.
They also allegedly stole a Rolex diamond wrist watch, 11,000 dollars (about N3,355 million), and N4million belonging to Nwuche and the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD).
Other items stolen were a revenue receipt, Nokia XL belonging to Mr Wasiu Akindele.
