Court Remands 28-Year-Old Man For Disrupting Elections

9 years ago

Court Remands 28-Year-Old Man For Disrupting Elections

A magistrate’s court sitting in Ilorin has ordered that a suspected hoodlum be remanded in prison for causing mayhem during the March 28 elections.

It was learnt that the defendant, 28-year-old Mutiu Shittu, and others at large, stormed a polling unit at Mount Camel College in the Oloje area of Ilorin, Kwara State with guns, among other weapons.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums invaded the unit at about 1.15pm when the accreditation of voters was almost concluded.

The incident was said to have created panic, while voters reportedly scampered for safety.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Shittu was arrested after some men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on election patrol were alerted to disturbance. Other members of the gang were said to have escaped.

The police said a locally-made pistol, two live cartridges and charms were recovered from the suspect. It was further learnt that a politician, identified only as Alhaji Muftau, sent the gang to disrupt election process in the area and snatch ballot boxes.

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Shittu, a resident of Agbo-Oba, was arraigned before the magistrate, Mr. O.M. Adeniyi.

He was charged with unlawful possession of firearm and armed robbery ? offences the police said contravened Section 97 of Penal Code 6 (B) and 3 (1) of Robbery and Fire Arms Act, Cap R11 Law of the Federation.

The charges read in part, “That you, Mutiu Shittu, and others now at large, on March 28, 2015, at about 1.15pm, are gang of armed robbers terrorising the Oloje area and its environs. A locally-made pistol and two live cartridges and charms are some of the accoutrements recovered from the gang.

“Based on the strength of the information received by SARS operatives on election duty patrol, that you and other hoodlums, armed with weapons were intimidating voters from casting their votes, the team rushed to the scene and arrested you, Mutiu Shittu. Prompt search conducted on your person led to the recovery of the weapons.

“Investigation equally revealed that you, and others now at large, were hired by one Alhaji Muftau, also at large, to disrupt and snatch ballot boxes at Mount camel polling unit, Oloje, Ilorin, on the said date.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken by Adeniyi, who ordered that he be remanded in prison pending the outcome of legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on the matter.

The case was adjourned till April 21, 2015.