A Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi, Benue State on Thursday ordered that a 19-year-old man, Jacob Utambe, charged with with armed robbery, be remanded in a correctional centre pending legal advice.
The police also charged Utambe with illegal possession of firearm.
Magistrate Cynthia Ikpe did not take the plea of Utambe for want of jurisdiction.
She ordered the police to return the case file to the Benue State Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Ikpe adjourned the case until July 7, 2021 for further mention.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Sergeant Ato Godwin, told the court that Utambe was arrested by a team of “Operation Zenda”, led by Inspector Haleru Musa, while on patrol on Daudu/Yelwata Road on May 28.
Godwin said Utambe, who is from Yelwata Guma LGA Benue State, was arrested on a motorcycle and a locally made pistol was recovered from him.
During police investigation, he said, Utambe confessed to being a member of a dreaded armed robbery syndicate terrorising motorists plying Daudu/Yelwata Road.
He said that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and prayed the court for adjournment.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Benue state 2004, Section 4 of the Abduction, Hostage-taking, Kidnapping, Secret cult membership and other similar activities contrary to the Law of Benue and Section 3(1) of the robbery and firearms special provision Act 2004.