An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan has ordered the remand of Farouq Usman, 28, and Babangida Aliu, 30, in a correctional facility over alleged charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.
The defendants, whose addresses were not disclosed, face charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping. The Magistrate, Mr. Olaolu Olanipekun, did not take the defendants’ pleas due to a lack of jurisdiction over the case. He directed the police to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the case until February 28, 2025, for further proceedings.
According to the Prosecutor, ASP Anthony Igori, the alleged crimes took place on April 14, 2024, at around 1:00 a.m. in Saki, Oyo State. The defendants are accused of attacking Buba Darsi and robbing him of his mobile phone while armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons. They are also accused of kidnapping Darsi and four others, demanding and collecting ransom payments worth millions of naira from their families.
The charges against them contravene Sections 6(b) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Laws of Nigeria, 2004, as well as Section 4(2) of the Oyo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law, 2016.
