Court remands 2 men accused of robbing, stabbing a recharge card seller

A Jos High Court on Friday remanded two men – Ibrahim Simdi, 21, and Istifanus Stephen, 29, in Jos prison, for allegedly robbing and stabbing a GSM recharge card seller.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Simdi is facing a two-count charge of robbery and attempt to commit culpable homicide, while the second accused, Stephen is being charged with receiving stolen property.

Both men are residents of Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, Jos.

The Judge, Justice D.D Longji, ordered the suspects to be remanded after the prosecutor, Mrs. Muleng Alex, prayed the court to remand them in prison till the next adjourned date.

Alex said that if bail was granted, the accused persons would jump bail or interfere with the police investigation.

The judge granted the prayer and adjourned the matter till May 12, for hearing while the accused persons would remain behind bars.

Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that one Esther Ayuba of Jos North Quarters, Tudun Wada reported the matter at the `A’ Division Police Station on April 21, 2016.

Alex told the court that the first accused person accosted the complainant while she was on her way home from work and stabbed her with a knife and robbed her of her recharge cards worth N300,000, in addition to some cash.

“At about 8.30 p.m., the complainant was returning home from her place of work when she was waylaid and dispossessed of her belongings.

“She noticed that someone was following her from behind and hastened her steps, but before she knew what was happening, the accused person started stabbing her on the back.

“He continued stabbing her until she fell down with blood gushing from different parts of her body; the suspect thereafter took her bag which contained recharge cards worth N300,000, and an undisclosed amount of money.”

The prosecutor said that while the complainant was in pains on the floor, she was able to recognise her attacker (Simdi), who she identified as her landlord’s son.

She alleged that the accused person later sold the recharge cards to one Stephen, who had since been arrested by the police.

Alex said that the offence committed by the first accused contravened the provision of sections 1(1 and 2) of the Robbery and Fire Arm special provision Act, CAP R11 of the laws of the federation of Nigeria2004.

She added that his actions also contravened section 221 of the Penal Code, while the second accused contravened the provisions of section 5 of the Robbery and Fire Arm special provision ACT.

The prosecutor said that if convicted, both acts are punishable with death by hanging and life imprisonment respectively.