The Police in Ebonyi State have arraigned a staff of the state judiciary, Uguru Uchenna before a Magistrate’s Court over alleged armed robbery, conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.
The 42-year-old man, in a suit marked MAB/730c/2024, was accused of robbing one Ajah Paul of his Toyota Corolla car valued N5,500,000.00 on gunpoint on January 5, 2023 at Udemezue street of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Uchenna was accused of also robbing his victim of his LG phone valued N25, 000 and cash sum of N110,000.
The prosecutor from the Director of Public Prosecution, Ebonyi Ministry of Justice, stressed that the defendant committed offences punishable under Sections 516(a) and 402 of Criminal Code Cap 33 volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria and under Section 27(1)(b)(i) of the Firearms Act, Cap F28, volume 7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in the state.
The charge read, “That you Uguru Uchenna and others now at large on the 5th day of January 2023 at No 70 Udemezue street Abakaliki in the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516(a) of criminal code cap 33 volume 1 laws of Ebonyi state of Nigeria 2009.
“That you Uguru Uchenna and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did arm yourselves with gun, machete and other dangerous weapons and rob one Ajah Paul of his Toyota Corolla car valued N5,500,000.00, LG phone valued N35,000.00, cash sum of N110,000.00, and thereby committed offense punishable under section 402 of the criminal code cap 33 volume 1 laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
“That you Uguru Uchenna and others now at large on the same date and place under the aforementioned magisterial district did have in your possession or under your custody one locally made pistol which you cannot give a satisfactory account of how you came by it and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27(1)(b)(i) of the Firearms Act,cap F28 volume 7 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Ebonyi State.”
Meanwhile, Magistrate Ojemba Oko remanded the defendant, a driver to a serving judge in the state, in Abakaliki Correctional Centre.
Lacking competent jurisdictions to hear such matters, the magistrate adjourned till December 27, 2024 for a report of compliance.