A Kogi State Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, on Tuesday, 2 April, ordered the detention in prison custody of a 53-year-old man, Augustine Obaje, for impersonation.
Obaje, described as a pastor, former state director of Peace Corps, and member of Kogi East neighbourhood watch, was charged with impersonating the Kogi State Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi and spreading false information about the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Obaje, according to charges filed against him in court,” fraudulently obtained the sum of three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) from Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omkoj who is the Chairman Kogi East Neighbourhood watch), under the false pretence that you were sent by Mr Tosin Ajayi, the State Director, State Security Service, Kogi State Command, thereby committed an offence of cheating by personating punishable under Section 322 of Kogi State Penal Code.”
And that the accused person also “committed an extortion by deliberately putting one Dr.Simeon Oyigun Omakojin, the Chairman Kogi East Neighbourhood watch), in fear of death to wit: that the Immediate Past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. has sent assassin and kidnappers to eliminate him thereby dishonestly induced that said Simeon Oyigun Omakoji, to deliver various amount of money amounting to two million Naira, (2m) to avoid being kidnapped or killed, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 294 of Kogi State Penal Code”
The prosecution counsel , Yahaya Olarewaju, orally applied for the remand of the accused person pending the conclusion of the investigation..
In a related development, the court also ordered the remand of three suspects in Kotonkarfi Correctional Home for robbery in Felele, a predominantly student community, and other places in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
One of the suspects, Abbas Salisu admitted stealing 3 phones while Gimba Ibrahim and Mamud Lawal Kwara who claimed to be phone technicians allegedly bought stolen phones from the prime suspect. They were arraigned in the same court by the DSS in Lokoja
The Charge sheet reads, “That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), male, Gimba Danlami IBRAHIM, (25yeas), male and Mamud Lawal KWARA (26years), male, on or about of February 2024 in Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did criminally conspire to commit an illegal act to wit; theft of phones, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), male, between the month of February and March 2024, in Adankolo and Felele Area of Lokoja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole thirty-three (33) phones (Android and button) valued at one million Naira (N1m), thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Gimba Danlami IBRAHIM, (25yeas), male and Mamud Lawal KWARA (26years), male, between the month of February and
1March 2024, at Paparanda Square Lokoja, dishonestly received stolen phones from Abbas SALISU knowing fully well that they are stolen properties, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of Kogi State Penal Code.
“That you, Abbas SALISU (22years), male, Gimba Danlami IBRAHIM, (25yeas), male and Mamud Lawal KWARA (26years), male, at Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, belong to Gang of thieves associated for the purpose of stealing along Adankolo, Ibro Motor Park, Felele No Time Lodge Okadigbo, Kogi State Polytechnic environs and Federal University Lokoja, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 306 of Kogi State Penal code.
After the four charges were read to hearing of the suspects, they denied all the allegations, saying they were false.
All the cases were adjourned 9 May for further adjudication.
