Teenager jailed for robbing policeman

A 19-year-old boy, Chukwade Nnerom, was on Tuesday jailed by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ogun State, for stealing, conspiracy and unlawful possession of items belonging to a policeman, Mr. Michael Kogi.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini, told the court that Nnerom conspired with one other person now at large, to commit the offences on March 12 at about 3pm.

Ozimini had told the court that, “The accused with his conspirator wrapped a rubber slippers pierced with four big nails in a polythene bag and carefully placed it under the tyre of Kogi’s vehicle.

“They monitored him as he went into a commercial bank to make some withdrawal. After he left the bank, he moved for a while and discovered that his tyre had been punctured.

“As he was struggling to remove the flat tyre, Nnerom and his conspirator went with a motorcycle and took away N278, 000 and other valuables from the car.”

Ozimini, who presented the money, a locally-made master-key and other items recovered from the convict as exhibits, said the victim being a policeman alerted his colleagues on patrol about the incident.

He also tendered a conventional statement made by the Nnerom to the court as another exhibit.

The prosecutor further told the court that policemen attached to Ibara Police Division went after the gang and arrested Nnerom while his accomplice escaped with the motorcycle.

“Nnerom jumped from the bike and took to his heel and the police team on patrol followed him until he was caught with the recovered items and the cash,”Ozimini said.

He said the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 390 (9) 430 (1-2) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws Vol. 1 of Ogun, 2006.

Nnerom, who was not represented by any counsel, pleaded guilty to the charges but pleaded with the court to be lenient with him.

“The other guy came to pick me in Imo that we can make a lot of money in Abeokuta. I have neither parents nor relatives here. Please help me to beg him (magistrate) to have mercy on me, I will never go back to crime again in my life,” he said.

In his judgment, Chief magistrate Adesegun Adenariwo, said, “The court has no choice but to exercise the powers of the law.

“This should serve as a deterrent to others out there who are also involved in this heinous and callous act that the law will soon catch up with them.”

He, thereafter, sentenced Nnerom to one year imprisonment for stealing and another one year for conspiracy. He however gave him an option of N10, 000 fine on each count.

Adenariwo, however, gave the convict one year jail term on count three but without an option of fine.

The magistrate said the jail term should run concurrently for each of the three counts.

 

Source: Punchng.com