The police on Thursday re-arraigned five suspects in an FCT High Court, Jabi, for alleged robbery in Durumi, Phase 1, Abuja.
The suspects, Moses Abutu, Sunday Adamu, Ali Muhammed, Abraham Boniface and Daniel Terfa, were first arraigned on March 2, 2016.
They all pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, attempt to commit robbery and being in possession of a vehicle suspected to have been stolen.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecutor, Mr Adamu Musa of the FCT Police Command, told the court that the offence was committed on August 22, 2015.
Musa said the defendants forcefully broke into the house of Mamuda Iliyasu in Durumi, Phase 1, to carry out the crime.
He said that they attacked Iliyasu and forcefully collected N250,000 and one Honda City car from him.
The prosecutor told the court that the same group of suspects was arrested by stop and search policemen on their way to another robbery in Gudu.
He said that the suspects were arrested on Oct. 22, 2015 in a Toyota Siena car suspected to be a stolen car.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 6 and 2 of the Robbery and Firearms Provision Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defence counsel, Mr Farouk Kahamagam, told the court that he was appearing in the case for the first time.
Kahamagam, therefore, pleaded with the court for adjournment to enable him to study the case file.
“I am taking over from the first lawyer, Mr Onyechi Stephen, and I am appearing in this matter for the first time; I have not even been able to file a notice of change of counsel.
“I also need to confirm some issues from the suspects so that I can be confident enough to go on with the matter.
“The prosecutor can take the lead in examination of the two witnesses present in the court since this matter has got to this stage.
“I will cross examine them at the next date of sitting,’’ Kahamagam said.
Justice Vera Vender adjourned definite hearing in the matter till November 9 and 10 to allow the defence acquaint himself with the case file. (NAN)
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