A 28-year-old man, Aderin Adedeji has been remanded in a custodial centre by an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, for allegedly dispossessing university students of their valuables including phones and laptops in their hostels.
The defendant was accused of robbing Ayomide Ogundipe and Adewuni Manam separately at Osekita Hostel in the neighbourhood of Ekiti State University.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Bamigbade, who brought two ex-parte motions to the court, prayed for the remand of the defendant in custody pending when he (prosecutor) would obtain legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
According to the charge, “The defendant was reasonably suspected to have committed the offence of armed robbery separately on Ayomide Ogundipe and Adewumi Manam respectively at Osekita Hostel on 29th September 2021.
“At the time of the robbery, the defendant, who was said to be armed with offensive weapons such as broken bottle, iron chisel and screwdriver, robbed them (victims) of their phones and laptop.
“The offence runs contrary to Section 1(2) and (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap 398 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 1990.”
The victims in their statement to the police stated that the defendant broke into their hostel at Osekita, in Iworoko Ekiti with offensive weapons and carted away their belongings.
According to them, it was their shout for help that attracted other students who gave the defendant a hot chase which culminated in his arrest.
The Magistrate, Olu Bamidele, who granted the request of the prosecutor, ordered the defendant remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti pending legal advice.
The magistrate adjourned the matter till November 10.