The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has arraigned three men who allegedly made an attempt in 2011 to rob the Surulere, Lagos, branch of the First Bank Plc.
The accused, Offon Akpan, Osanbie Sunday and Akeem Karim, were arraigned yesterday on three counts which had been filed against them since 2012.
The charges, which were read to the accused before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, bordered on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, felony and attempted robbery.
As stated by the DPP, Akpan, Sunday and Karim, with some persons still at large, stormed the bank on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, with a locally-made pistol and two live cartridges.
The alleged attempted robbery was stated to have been carried out around 1pm on March 18, 2011.
The DPP stated, in the third particulars of the offence that, “Offon Akpan, Osanbie Sunday, Akeem Karim and others at large, on or about March 18, 2011 at about 1pm, at First Bank, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, were found in possession of two live cartridges with an intent to rob the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere branch, Lagos.”
The then Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, who is now a High Court judge, stated the accused allegedly violated sections 403A and 403 (3) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State 2003.
Akpan, Sunday and Karim, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge ordered their return to prison custody and adjourned till November 24 and 25, 2015 for commencement of trial.
She also ordered the prosecutor, Mr. A.A. George, to serve the proof of evidence on the defence before the adjourned date.