Police arraign late former Kogi state governor, Audu Abubakar's son, Mohammed for armed robbery

Police officers in the Kogi state police command, yesterday arraigned Mohammed Audu, the first son of former governor of the state, Abubakar  Audu, at the Chief Magistrate Court II, Lokoja, for alleged robbery and attempted culpable homicide. Mohammed and about 15 other members of his family were arrested by the police yesterday.
Apart from the robbery and attempted culpable homicide charges, the police also arraigned him for charges like criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt, mischief, armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide, contrary to sections 97(1), 248, 327, 298 and 229 of the Penal Code Law.‎ He was said to have been detained on Wednesday September 7th after honouring the invitation of the men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad at the ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters in Lokoja.

The prosecuting Police Officer, Gabriel Otowu, told the court that the late politician’s son allegedly committed the offences against his uncle, Prince Yahaya Audu, on August 30th, in the family house at Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) read by the Otowu, Mohammed's uncle alleged that he was in the family compound in Ogbonicha with Ibrahim Imam for the eighth days fidau prayer of late Dauda Audu when the alleged offence took place. He alleged that hoodlum that were heavily armed with guns, cutlasses and axe criminally conspired, invaded his compound and demanded for his properties, saying they wanted anything  “ no matter how small.” The Uncle alleged that the hoodlums thereafter shot sporadically into the air and attacked him with matchet as he attempted to give them money. He said they vandalised his Hummer Jeep and escaped into the bush after he pretended to be dead. The Uncle alleged that Mohammed had threatened to deal with him prior to the attack and that he and Imman sustained bullet wounds and were later rushed to the Specialist Hospital Lokoja for treatment.

Counsel to Mohammed, Okechukwu Ayewu, who led seven other lawyers, prayed the court to grant him bail in line with provisions of 36(5) of the constitution and sections 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). The Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini, in his ruling said:

“Though I find on the face of the originating process (FIR), a barrage of allegations, it appears that both counsels are on the same page. Accordingly, the accused person herein is admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum as he adjourned the matter to September 29, for further mention".