Police Arraign Applicant For Snatching Handbags

The police on Wednesday arraigned an applicant, Ocheme Ifeanyi, in a Grade 2 Area Court, Kado, Abuja, for joint act and extortion.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Christopher Roko, told the court that the accused and five others, now at large, formed a common intention and attacked four women at the Berger junction at 9.30 p.m. on Dec 13.
Roko alleged that they snatched handbags, wallets and mobile phones belonging to Gloria Chidi, 25; Oluchi Nwanze, 20; Uchenna Jude, 24, and Duruibe Desmond, 30, all of Life Camp Mpape, Karamajiji, Abuja, He told the court that the women lodged a report against the accused at the Utako Police Station on Dec. 13.
The prosecutor said the accused and the others, armed with knives, bottles, sticks and cutlasses, snatched the complainants’ handbags as they were waiting to board vehicle home.
Roko said the police arrested the accused while he was trying to flee the scene of the crime. He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 292 of the Penal Code which prescribes a maximum of five years.
After the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty. The presiding judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in like sum who must be above Grade level 7. Ado adjourned the case to March 3 for further hearing.


NAN