Court remands two NSCDC officials for alleged armed robbery

Amarachukwu Asonta, a 27-year-old female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and her colleague, Adebayo Ajayi, 32, were remanded in Ikeja High Court on Wednesday for suspected armed robbery.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Justice Oyindamola Ogala ordered the duo’s remand after they pleaded not guilty to a two-count conspiracy and armed robbery allegation.

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions filed the accusations against the couple (DPP).
According to Dr. Jide Martins, Director of the Lagos State DPP, the NSCDC personnel committed the crimes around 2.20 a.m. on January 30, 2018, along Yaya Abatan Road in Ogba, Lagos.

The defendants and those who are still at large robbed an Iveco container truck with the registration number LSR746XD while equipped with pistols and other aggressive weapons.

“The vehicle contained 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitters beverages worth N2.7 million, waybills, mobile phones, and an unidentified quantity of cash,” stated the DPP.
Following the NSCDC officers’ arraignment, the DPP requested that the defendants be detained at the Correctional Centre.

“My lord, this has been going on since 2018.” The defendants are NSCDC officers. They have been fleeing the court, and a bench warrant has been issued for their arrest.
“The first defendant (Asonta) had to be apprehended with the assistance of the NSCDC,” Martins explained.
The offences violate Sections 297(2)(b) and 299 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.

Following the DPP’s arguments, the defence counsel, Mr Dapo Daramola, informed the court that he had submitted an application for the defendants’ release.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala ordered the defendants’ remand in the Correctional Centre and delayed the case until Feb. 23 to hear the bail application.