Robbery: Police arrested us for crimes we didn’t commit, defendants tell court

Two of the three men charged with armed robbery and conspiracy, yesterday, told an FCT High Court that they have no knowledge of the crime they were charged with. The two defendants, Joel Anthony and Mohammed Ibrahim, were arraigned in 2013 along with William Nnam, all residents of Gwagwalada, Abuja, on two-count charge of armed […]

Two of the three men charged with armed robbery and conspiracy, yesterday, told an FCT High Court that they have no knowledge of the crime they were charged with.

The two defendants, Joel Anthony and Mohammed Ibrahim, were arraigned in 2013 along with William Nnam, all residents of Gwagwalada, Abuja, on two-count charge of armed robbery and conspiracy.

The police had alleged that the defendants, armed with dangerous weapons, robbed one Clement Awogbemu of Kwali of his car and other valuables on July 1, 2013 at about 9.00 a.m. They pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Anthony told the court that he knew nothing of the offence he was charged with. While being led in evidence by his counsel, Yusuf Abdullahi, Anthony said on Aug. 13, 2013 he was in front of his house when two policemen came and arrested him. They asked him if he knew one Collins Nnajiofor, and he said he was his elder brother’s friend.

“I was asked if I know Kenneth Anthony. I said, yes he is my elder brother and one of them brought out his identity card and said they are taking me to SARS office for questioning. At SARS, I was asked to write statement, after which I was asked to read it out, I was told that I will be going to Gwagwalada High Court to testify,” he said.

Anthony narrated further that when he got to the court he saw Nnajiofor standing in the dock and he was asked to take the oath and when he realised that he was not going to be allowed to say the truth, he raised his hand.

He said he told the judge what the police wanted him to do and the judge got angry and asked him to come out from the witness box, adding that the judge subsequently granted bail to Nnajiofor.

He said following what happened in the court, he was handcuffed and one of the policemen told him that his stubbornness would lead him into trouble. He said he never committed armed robbery and never saw the complainant in the present case until yesterday in court.

The second defendant, Mohammed Ibrahim, through a Hausa interpreter, told the court that he was at home with his wife when police came and arrested him. “I was only asked my name, my surname, my occupation and my mother’s name. They recorded it and asked me to sign. I did not write anything,” he said, adding that he was beaten to unconsciousness though he did not have any knowledge of the crime he was alleged to have committed.

After listening to their testimonies, the trial judge, Justice Peter Affen, adjourned proceedings to November 1 for the third defendant to commence his defence.