24 Year Old Remanded in Prison For Attempting To Rob With A Toy Gun

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Latest Headlines Thursday, December 12th, 2013

Ruth Bamidele, Lagos

A 24 year old man, Yusuf Lawal was on Thursday remanded to prison custody by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, for conspiracy with other, robbery and possession of firearms which is latter found to be a toy gun.
State prosecutor, Adejumo Kester, said the defendant on the 14th day of August, 2011 at Raji Oba in Alimosho, conspire with others now at large to commit felony wit: robbery.

The prosecutor also said that the defendant was found in the possession of a toy gun with intent to commit a felony wit: robbery.
He further said that the offences committed is contrary to section 297 and 296(3) of the criminal law of Lagos, 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to charge read to him in Yoruba language.

However, the defendant stated his innocence in a statement, he said he dropped out of school in JSS 2, because his grandmother who he was living with at that time could not afford to send him to school. He latter became a bus conductor.

The defendant further said that on the said date, he was going to Egbeda area in the company of some friends when they stopped to ease themselves at Iyana Ipaja, some vigilante men challenged them, during which his friends ran away.

He added that he is not the owner of the toy gun the vigilante men gave to the police. However, the defendant has no legal representation, hence Justice Kudiratu Jose, the presiding Judge referred the matter to the office of the public defender.

Matter is adjourned to the 17th of March, 2014 for re arraignment.