Alleged lunatic docked for robbery

A 25-year-old unconfirmed lunatic, Temitope Onifade, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere for alleged robbery.

The defendant, who has no particular means of livelihood, first appeared before Justice Christopher Balogun, where issue of the defendant’s mental state was raised by his counsel, Mr O. A. Azeez.

Sequel to the directive of Lagos State Chief Justice, Mrs Ayotunde Phillips, the defendant was again arraigned before another judge,  Justice Aishat Opesanwo, on a two-count charge of armed robbery.

According to the charge, Onifade (defendant) allegedly commited the offence on July 17, 2008 at Okokomaiko-Mile 2-Badagary Expressway, Lagos, contrary to Sections 402 and 403 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

The prosecutor, Mr Afolabi Sholebo, urged the court to retake the defendant’s plea since the case was transferred.

However, when the plea of the defendant was taken before Justice Opesanwo, he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.

Defence counsel, Mr O.A Azeez, reminded the court that there had been an order into the inquiry of the defendant’s mental state, by Justice Balogun, before the case was transferred.

Azeez informed the court that Justice Balogun made the order following observations by the prison warders.

Justice Opesanwo held that the defence counsel ought to file a formal application, if the mental state of the defendant is still relevant.

… also 28-yr-old

Also, a 28-year-old man, Austin Iloka, was yesterday remanded in Kirikiri prisons custody, by a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, pending the legal advice from the Office the Director of Public  Prosecution, DPP, for allegedly stealing aluminum coils worth N19.8 million.

Magistrate, Miss A.O Akinde, ordered that the defendant be remanded pending the advice from DPP.