Court remands man, 34, for allegedly robbing 3 FUOYE students

An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, ordered the remand of a 34-year-old man, Anifowose Taoheeb, in Ado-Ekiti correctional centre over alleged conspiracy and armed robbery.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is being tried for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The Prosecutor, Insp Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb. 15 at about 1:30 a.m. in Oye-Ekiti.

He said that the defendant conspired to rob Joy Ogunruku, Jecinta Ukali and Daniel Ajibola, who are all students at Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Adejare said that the offences contravened Sections 314 and 312(2)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

He quoted one of the victims, Ogunruku, to have said in her testimony that: “My friend, Jecinta, and I came out of our room to take fresh breeze around 1:30 a.m. and suddenly, we saw three boys putting on nose mask.

“I later got to know the name of the third boy as Toheeb Anifowose, who brought out a cut-to-size pistol and pointed it at me.

“He (Anifowose) shouted ‘give me your phone’. The two other boys were with Jecinta and demanded for her phone also.

“They asked us to stand up but I refused, and that was when they started beating us and dragged us away after collecting my iPhone XR and hiding it in the bush.

“The two boys ran away, while I held the other one. Jecinta then freed herself and went to call other students who came to my rescue and he was arrested.”

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre, pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Bankole Oluwasanmi, ordered the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice.

He adjourned the matter till March 27 for mention.