Suspected robber attempts raping woman, slits her neck

Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate Court

A 19-year-old man, Abdulazeez Adam, has been arraigned before a Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly robbing and attempting to murder a woman, Nkechi Onuoha.

The incident was said to have happened at the victim’s residence on Biliaminu Akinsanya Street, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo area of Lagos.

Adam was alleged to have attempted to rape the victim, who then told him that her husband had taken her to a shrine where a curse was placed on her that anybody who slept with her would die.

It was learnt that the accused made away with three ATM cards, Nokia Lumia, Samsung Note and Samsung Galaxy Tab phones all valued N145, 000, a wrist watch and cash sum of N174, 000.

Not satisfied, he was said to have brought out a knife and slit her neck, leaving her for dead.

The police, however, were said to have arrived at the scene of the incident on time and took the victim to a hospital for treatment.

In a statement made available to the court, Onuoha said, “In the early hours of that day, around 2am, I heard a sound on my locked sitting room door.

“I woke up and saw him. He said I should cooperate with him that he had little time to spend in my flat.

“He then brought out a pack of condom and said the first thing he wanted to do was to have sex with me. I told him that I was in my monthly period and that my husband took me to a priest, and that if I have sex with any man, that I and the man will die instantly.

“He then said I should write a cheque for him. I said I did not have any cheque book. I told him I use my ATM card to withdraw money. He asked me to give him my ATM cards from UBA, GTB, and First Bank. He also collected my phones and money.”

She explained that the suspect asked her at several intervals if she knew him, which she denied.

She said after he was done, he said, “Do you know that all the things I collected are earthly things? Then he said he was sorry he had to do his job, then he descended on me, cut my left leg, overpowered me and cut my neck.”

The police arraigned the suspect before an Ebute Meta Magistrate Court on three counts of robbery and attempted murder.

The police prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, said the offences were punishable under sections 409, 228 and 295(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

During the remand proceeding, Nwosu asked the court to keep Adam in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The remand form attached to the charge sheet, however, indicated that the suspect, who was arrested in Osogbo, Osun State, did not confess to the crime and was not found in custody of any offensive weapons.

The police, in the form, said they would be relying on accounts of either an eyewitness or the victim, adding that there was no need for further investigation.

The Chief Magistrate, Tunbosun Abolarinwa, ordered that Adam should be remanded in custody.

The matter was adjourned till July 25, 2014.