The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two security guards attached to an estate in Akowonjo, Egbeda axis of the state for allegedly impersonating men of the Nigerian Army.
PUNCH reports that the duo, who were apprehended in the community in military camouflage, claimed to be members of the Nigerian Legion.
They were detained after they could not give satisfactory explanations to the items recovered from them.
It was gathered that a team of SARS operatives, led by one Sergeant Emmanuel, embarked on a patrol within Area M Command, as a proactive measure to stem bank robbery in the state. The team intercepted the two young men in military camouflage with two bags.
A Nigeria Police Force crest, a handcuff and two jack knives were recovered from the two bags found with the suspects, Musa Mohammed, 26 and Richard Adamu 25, who both hail from Adamawa State.
The suspects who were consequently arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on three counts of impersonation by a police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, both pleaded not guilty.
According to Adamu, he bought the army uniform in a market, adding that he had never used the uniform to rob or oppress anybody.
“I bought the uniform in the market. I was walking along the road one day when I found the police crest. I have never used it to rob or harass people. I am a security guard”, he claimed.
On his part, Mohammed said it was Adamu who gave him the uniform. He also denied using same to perpetrate any unlawful act.
The charges against the accused persons by the prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, read:
“That you, Richard Adamu and Musa Mohammed, on November 24, 2015, at about 9:30am, at Akowonjo area, Egbeda, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: impersonating yourselves as members of the Nigerian Army by putting on camouflage vests and green combat trousers; thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 79 (1b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully have in your possession; one Nigeria Police crest, a handcuff and two jack knives ─ the items you could not give a satisfactory account of, and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011”.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Olayinka, granted the duo bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case till January 28, 2016 for mention.
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