The Lagos state police command has arraigned two men identified as Abdullahi Abubakar and Nurudeen Shotade, before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for allegedly being in possession of the stolen phone of a woman, Opeyemi Oyelami, who was robbed and killed by armed robbers in the state.
Late Opeyemi was attacked by three men who rode on a motorcycle at her shop at Number 52 Ikola Road, behind AIT, Alagbado, Lagos State, on January 23, 2022. The assailants who were armed with a short gun, stormed her shop at about 6am and robbed her of her phone, a Tecno POP 5, and shot her at her shop. She later died from the gunshot injury she sustained. Her husband reported the matter to the Alagbado Police Division and an investigation commenced to track down her killers and locate the whereabouts of her phone. A detailed investigation by the police led to the discovery of her phone with one of the defendants, Shotade, who, after being arrested, led policemen to arrest his accomplice.
During their arraignment, the prosecutor, I. G Oriabure, told the court that the offense committed by the defendants is punishable under Section 328(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
The charge read in part;
“That you, Abdullahi Abubakar and Nurudeen Shotade, on January 20, 2023, around 6am at No 52 Ikola Road, behind AIT, Alagbado, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, dishonestly received a disposed of phone, Tecno POP 5, belonging to late Opeyemi Oyelami valued at N45, 000 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 328(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
They however pleaded not guilty to the offenses. The police prosecutor requested the IPO to explain the case to the court, and during the explanation, he said the defendants were not involved in the killing of the deceased. He said Oyelami’s killers were apprehended in another operation in the Agege area of the state.
“They did not kill the deceased, she was shot by two robbers; one of whom is late and the other in police custody with bullet wounds. They are charged because they sold stolen phones which they are aware that the phones were stolen, and have been in the business for years now.”he said
With this testimony, the magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each in like sum, with two responsible sureties; stating that one of the sureties must present a three years tax payment receipt and a six months statement of account that is verifiable.
She, therefore, adjourned the case till June 1, 2023, for trial.