A carpenter, Victor Odoya and a hotel attendant, Cleava Amechi were on Wednesday docked in a Dei-dei Grade I Area Court, Shagari Quarters, Abuja, for allegedly extorting three phones and N3, 000 from passer-by.
The police charged Odoya and Amechi with joint act and extortion.
The Prosecution Counsel , Chinedu Ogada told the court that on Jan. 28, Luka Andrew and Stanley John of Gwarinpa , Abuja reported the matter at the Galadima Police Station, Abuja.
Ogada, told the court that on same date, at about 5:40pm, the defendants and four others who are now at large, conspired together, attacked and extorted valuables from passer-by around Kudibena village Gwarinpa.
The extorted items, he said include, three mobile phones all valued at N165, 000 and a cash sum of N3, 000.
Ogada however, added that during the police raid, four of the suspects escaped with the stolen items to an unknown destination, while the two defendants arrested admitted to the crime.
The counsel said, the offence contravened the provision of sections 79 and 294 of the penal code law.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Paul Ojorum, counsel to the defendants prayed the court to grant the defendants bail, citing sec 36(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended and 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Ojorum told the court that an accused was still presumed innocent until proven guilty and assured the court that the defendants would not jump bail.
The Prosecution counsel, however, did not oppose the prayers of the defence counsel further urged the court to use its discretion to grant the defendants bail.
The Presiding Judge, Sulyman Ola, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum N100, 000, with one surety each in like sum.
Ola, ordered that the sureties must be reliable with a means of livelihood who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must deposit a bail bond at the registry.
The Judge adjourned the matter until March 29, for hearing.
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