Two fake meter readers arraigned for armed robbery in Kwara

TWO male armed robbery suspects, who claimed to be official meter readers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), have been remanded in Ilorin prison, Kwara state, for attempted armed robbery.

However, the suspects, Adeleke Benjamin and Adedeji Solomon, pleaded not guilty to the charges read against them when they appeared before Magistrate Esther Abu.

They had been arraigned before the court on charges of criminal conspiracy, attempted armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and attempt to commit an offence to wit culpable homicide contrary to Sections 6(b), 2(a) and 2(3) of Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 95 of Penal Code Law.

According to Police First Information Report (FIR), the complainant, Mrs Comfort Olupinla of Olorunsogo area of Ilorin, Kwara State at about 1300hors on August 8, 2018, reported at ‘B’ Division, Adewole Area, Ilorin that two hoodlums wanted to strangulate her to death.

The police report further claimed that “On 7/08/2018 at about 1345hrs, one Mrs Comfort Olupinla reported that two hoodlums; Adeleke Benjamin and Adedeji Solomon invaded her house with pretence to be Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) staff reading electricity meters.

“She further said that the duo deceived her by demanding for drinking water during which they gained entrance into her house and wanted to kill her with one cut-to-size gun and were strangling her.

“She raised an alarm which drew the attention of a passerby motorcyclist who rescued her while the hoodlums took to their heels”.

The report indicated that the motorcyclist and other passersby gave the hoodlums a hot chase and later arrested them with a cut to size gun.

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Although the accused persons were said to have voluntarily confessed to have conspired to commit the crime during interrogation, they, however, during cross-examination, pleaded not guilty of the offence.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant, Oderinde Abiodun, asked the court to remand the duo in prison custody pending the completion of the police investigation on the matter.

In his ruling, Magistrate Abu ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prison, Ilorin while the case was adjourned to Tuesday, September 4, 2018, for further mention.