MICHAEL AKINOLA
Four security guards have landed in trouble in Lagos State after armed robbers reportedly burgled an apartment and carted away property including money worth about N300m belonging to Mrs. Evelyn Kalum Tawo and escaped.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Turnbull Street off Onikoyi Road, Ikoyi area of Lagos, where the suspects, Anther Terry, 32, Tana Emmanuel, 43, David Iorver, 30 and Nnamdi Emenyonu, 36, were engaged as security guards.
According to Police sources, the owner of the apartment, Mrs. Tawo, reported that her apartment was burgled by armed robbers on 24th February, 2023, in the early morning at about 3.30am armed with gun and other dangerous weapons and they carted away properties inside the apartment before they escaped.
She listed what the armed robbers carted away to include $177,800 Dollars, £27,200 pounds, Rolex wrist watch worth €10,500 Euros, Chilpard wrist watch worth worth $12, 230 Dollars, Cartier wrist watch worth $6,300 Dollars, iPhone Pro Max worth N800,000 including gold ring and bracelets worth N100m.
The suspects were arrested following a petition to the Commissioner of Police, who detailed the Strike Squad to investigate the alleged armed robbery incident and the security guards were arrested and detained at the State Command Headquarters in Ikeja for interrogation.
During interrogation, the guards reportedly told the Police that they did not know anything about the robbery incident in the area nor knew that there was robbery attack on the house.
However, the Police found them culpable as security guards and charged them before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conspiracy and armed robbery.
They all pleaded not guilty and informed the Court that were security guards and knew nothing of any robbery operation in the apartment.
The prosecutor, Inspector Irabo Uche, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. R.A. Alejo, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified.
The matter was adjourned till 18th May, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.