A Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Thursday, remanded seven men in a correctional service centre for allegedly robbing church members of their properties and kidnapping one during church service.

The defendants, Mohamodu Sanni, 24, Abdul Salad, 28, Abdulraman Musa, 38, Abubakar Ibrahim, 39, Umar Aliu, 30, Suleiman Yusuf, 30, and Ismaila Yusuf, 20, are facing three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Adekunle Opayemi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Nov. 26, at about 10:45pm at Christ Apostolic Church Gudugba village via Wasimi in Ogun.

Opayemi said that the defendants conspired with others at large, while armed with weapons to rob church members while holding a vigil.

He added that the defendants kidnapped one of the church members, Mrs Atolagbe Mojisola, 48, and prevented anyone from having access to her.

He said the gang robbed one Evangelist Obisesan Seye, Mrs Oyere Temitope, Pastor Sanyaolu Zacheus, and Mrs Atolagbe Mojisola, of their phones, values yet unknown, as well as the sum of N36,000.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 6(b) and 2(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act Cap Rll Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 23 (2), 24(2) and 451 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr B. A Somorin, remanded the defendants in a correctional service c1entre, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Somorin adjourned the case until Feb. 2, 2021.

TodayNG