Court rejects bail application of notorious handset thieves in Minna

Chief Magistrate Fati Umar Hassan has rejected bail application for the release of 6 notorious handset thieves when the motion was brought before her.

The 6 defendants according to the police prosecutor Muazu Abdullahi ASP included Umar Aminu popularly known as Ogobin, 24 years old, Umar Saidu, 25 years of age, Mohammed Haruna 22-year old. Others are Abdullahi Isyaku Mahmud Bala and Naziru Rabiu all of Minna metropolitan.

They were earlier arraigned on three count charges which bothered on joint act of extortion and thugery and offense punishable under sections 79,292 of penal code and section 5 of thugery act of Niger state Law.

When the three count charges were read to them by the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At this point, the police Prosecutor Muazu Abdullahi ASP objected to their bail on the ground that cases of thugery are on the increase in Minna and its environs in recent times.

He added that granting them bail at this early stage they will jump bail and escape justice as such they will go back to their normal activities of harassing and snatching innocent people of their belongings.

“My Lord, I strongly objected to the bail of the six defendants standing trial before this honorable court. Also My Lord, these defendants are notorious in dispossessing people of their hard earned property.

“They are also known for using dangerous weapons such as knives and cutlasses in inflicting serious injuries on their victims. This is my submission my Lord, “the prosecutor told the court.”

However, the defence counsel to the 6 defendants, Barrister Zainab Mohammed made an oral application for their bail which was turned down by the Chief Magistrate informing her to formally apply for their bail and she then ordered for their remand in Correctional Custody and adjourned for the ruling on the bail application till the eight of May 2024.

While ruling on their bail application as moved by the defence counsel, Barrister Zainab Mohammed, the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan, aligned herself with the police prosecutor.

She held that the 6 defendants were brought before the court because police Investigation revealed that the defendants had something to answer in order to exonerate themselves from the offenses allegedly committed.

“I quite agree with the prosecutor that the offense of thugery within Minna and its environs is becoming one too many as people are always afraid to go about doing their lawful business of the day.

“Is either their handset or bag extorted by using long knives or any sharp objects to scare their victims and sometimes even injure their victims, therefore, bail application for the defendants is hereby refused”, she declared.