January 23, 2018

For allegedly snatching three Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and withdrawing N350, 000 from the accounts, a 27-year-old unemployed man, Ayomide Ogunyemi, was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Ogunyemi, a resident of Iju area of Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Police Sgt. Godwin Awase told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in April 2017 at Fagba in Iju.

He said the accused with two others still at large, snatched three ATM cards from the complainant, Mr Godwin Onyenmachi, and forced him to disclose the pins which he sued in withdrawing N350,000 from the three accounts.

“The complainant went to the ATM to withdraw some money, when he jumped into his tricycle to move, the accused approached him and begged him to take them to Fagba.

“The complainant agreed and on their way, the accused snatched his three ATM cards from him and commanded him to disclose the pins or they will kill him.

“Out of fear, the complainant revealed the three ATM cards’ pins to the accused.

“They took him to a place and ordered him to sit while the accused went to withdraw the money before letting him go,” he said.

Awase said the complainant later sighted one of the accused persons at Fagba and called in the police, who arrested him.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years jail term for stealing, while Section 411 stipulates two years for conspiracy.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adigun, said the sureties should be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until Jan. 31 for mention.