The police on Wednesday arraigned an 18-year-old man, Hassan Abubakar, at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court, Abuja, over alleged extortion.
Abubakar, of no fixed address, was charged with joint act and extortion.
The prosecutor, ASP Peter Ejike, told the court that two residents of Kubwa, in the FCT, Mr Fawodoye Olaniyi and Esther Uche, reported the matter to the police on Oct. 18.
Ejike alleged that Abubakar and two others identified as Samson and Black, currently at large, conspired to harass and extort valuables from pedestrians.
“The defendant and his cohorts criminally intimidated and forcefully collected various items from the complainants and other pedestrians,” he said.
According to him, one Techno phone valued at N62,000, one iPhone, 12 mobile phones and N63, 000 were forcefully collected from members of the public.
Ejike further stated that the defendants committed the offences at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 18 along Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 79 and 292 of the Penal Code. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Aminu Eri admitted Abubakar to bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in like sum.
Eri ordered that the surety must be a reliable citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the court.
He said the surety should deposit a recent passport photograph and a valid means of identification before the court, and adjourned the matter until Nov.3 for hearing. (NAN)
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