A notorious cross-border armed robber, Victor Uche, has been granted two weeks of community service by a makeshift court emplaced by the Lagos State Government to decongest police cells in the State.
The accused, a driver by profession, was said to have absconded with his boss’ Lexus vehicle on March 23, 2021, three days after he was employed.
The police said the accused drove the car with registration number JJJ 510 GA, to Abuja, got the colour changed and was on the verge of selling it when he was tracked to his hideout by detectives.
The police added that the accused removed the car from the premises of the Nigerian Bar Association, in Ikeja.
“My Lord, he changed the colour of the Jeep from grey to navy blue and got the car re-registered as at the time it was recovered.
“A laptop, two Samsung tablets and a mobile telephone belonging to the owner, who is a lawyer, Austin Abhulimen, were also recovered in the jeep.
“After his arrest, the case was transferred from Abuja to the Ikeja Police division where he had been detained, until May 20, 2021, when he was charged to court,” the police said.
Members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the condition of service amongst others.
Car owner faults process
Ironically, the owner, Austin Abhulimen, on Monday, questioned the manner in which the accused was charged to court by the Police at the Ikeja division of the Lagos State Police command and subsequently sentenced to two weeks of community service.
Expressing surprise at the manner the accused was released and the light sentence slammed on the offence, the owner of the recovered vehicle lamented that: “I was not given notice of the arraignment and trial, no notice of the charge, except to be told of the two weeks community service given as punishment to a habitual cross border and inter-state rogue.
“I was not even aware that a court was in existence, as the one I knew had been on strike.
“No prosecutor was in attendance, neither was I invited as the complainant.
“This is the crux of the matter. I could not fathom any reason for such a ridiculous trial and sentence for a man that stole my automobile valued at N8 million, destroyed my case files, my laptop and two Samsung tablets.
“This is nothing but a mockery of the judicial process”.
He said efforts to get the charge sheets from the Police at the station had met a brick wall.
