A 23-year-old man, Muhammed Isah, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court in Lagos State for allegedly impersonating as a personnel of the Nigerian Army to steal a motorcycle valued at N1.25 million.
The defendant was brought before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and unlawful impersonation.
According to the prosecutor, SP Philip Adegbemuji, the alleged incident occurred on July 14, 2026, at about 8:00 p.m. under the Ashade Junction bridge in the Agege area of Lagos State.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant, in company of an accomplice who is currently at large, accosted a commercial motorcyclist identified as Muhammed Rabilu at the said location.
It was alleged that the suspects presented a fake military identification card and paraded themselves as serving officers of the Nigerian Army to intimidate the victim.
The prosecutor told the court that the complainant was allegedly dispossessed of his Bajaj motorcycle valued at One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000) during the encounter.
The matter was reported at the Isokoko Police Division in Agege, where officers commenced investigation into the incident. In the course of investigation, the defendant was apprehended, while his alleged accomplice escaped and is still being sought by the Police.
The three-count charge preferred against the defendant by the Commissioner of Police was said to be contrary to and punishable under the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
At the arraignment, the court registrar read the charges to the defendant in the open court and he pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following his plea, the prosecutor, SP Philip Adegbemuji, asked the court for a date to enable him present witnesses and to allow the Police to conclude investigation on the fleeing suspect.
Counsel to the defendant however, applied for bail on his behalf, urging the court to grant bail in the most liberal terms, assuring that the defendant would not jump bail and would be available for trial.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu granted the defendant bail with two responsible sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Magistrate further ordered that the sureties must be verified and that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to a later date for mention.
Meanwhile, the Police have assured that efforts are ongoing to arrest the second suspect who is currently at large.
Members of the public have been advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious person parading himself as security operative to the nearest Police station.