‘Army colonel’ faces trial for alleged impersonation, robbery

The police have commenced trial of a 33-year-old man, Henry Obiajulu, who claimed to be a Lieutenant Colonel with the Nigerian Army. Obiajulu, who was yesterday brought before an Ikeja chief magistrate court on a two-count charge of impersonation and fraud, was said to have been arrested at the New Hotel, Shasha, a Lagos suburb, […]

The police have commenced trial of a 33-year-old man, Henry Obiajulu, who claimed to be a Lieutenant Colonel with the Nigerian Army.

Obiajulu, who was yesterday brought before an Ikeja chief magistrate court on a two-count charge of impersonation and fraud, was said to have been arrested at the New Hotel, Shasha, a Lagos suburb, while allegedly fully kitted in military uniform.

The prosecutor, Mr Benson Emuerhi, alleged that the accused used the uniform to rob one Ibrahim Bolaji of his mobile phones, wrist watch and other items all valued at N895,000.

Emuerhi said that the accused had gone to the hotel to relax when a police team that had been on his trail swooped down on him. At the time of his arrest, the accused was said to be dressed in military camouflage, jungle hat and other military accoutrements.

The prosecutor said when the police operatives interrogated Obiajulu, he claimed to be a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Nigerian Army.

“When he was asked to show proof, he was unable to do so. He was then arrested and detained at the police station for investigation, during which he later confessed not to have ever been enlisted into the Nigerian military as he had earlier claimed,” the prosecutor said.

On further investigation, Emuerhi added, the police discovered that the phones the accused had with him were those he had stolen from his victim.

“On arrival, Ibrahim, whom he had robbed earlier, confirmed that the phones belonged to him,” the prosecutor added.

Obiajulu pleaded not guilty. Emuerhi did not oppose the bail request by the accused but asked the court to give a date for the hearing since he had pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Sule-Amzat remanded him in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions and adjourned the case till December 10, 2018.