Crimes

Police secure conviction of 4 suspected armed robbers

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has secured the conviction of four arrested suspects before the Zuba High Court sitting at the Gwagwalada High Court Division, Abuja.

The conviction of the four suspects, Tochukwu Uwalaka, Gideon Igbabo, Miracle Amaechi, and Jamil Abdulsalam, came after the conclusion of a case of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery filed against them by the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB-IRT).

The four suspects were alleged to have lured a 10-year-old daughter of their victim at gunpoint to gain access into the victim’s house at the Kuje area of Abuja on August 23, 2016.

According to a statement made available to The Star on Monday by the acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, the suspects attacked the victim and his family with dangerous weapons and carted away valuables which included a 2006 Xterra Jeep, a 2008 Toyota Camry, 2 HP laptops, phones, a digital camera, cash sum of N200,000, jewellery and other valuables.

Adejobi noted that the matter was transferred to the FIB-IRT where police operatives swiftly apprehended one of the suspects who led them to his three accomplices.

The police spokesperson added that the presiding judge of the Abuja High Court, Justice Ebong, after hearing evidence from the prosecution, the defendants, and witnesses, affirmed the guilt of the defendants and sentenced the four suspects to death by hanging for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, house trespass, and assault in contravention of the provisions of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, 2004, and the Penal Code Law.

Speaking on the development, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, commended the judiciary and the FIB-IRT, under the leadership of DCP Olatunji Disu, and the doggedness of the operatives in ensuring justice in the matter and for following through on operational successes with prosecutorial prowess which has led to the conviction of these suspects.

The IGP equally reaffirmed the commitment of the NPF to ensuring that all matters reported to the police are properly followed up until conviction is secured at courts of competent jurisdictions.

The Star