31st May, 2014
A 27-year old labourer, Francis Mokwe, who publicly proclaimed himself as an insurgent at a banking hall in Lagos, was on Friday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.
Mokwe, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge for disorderly conduct at a branch of Stanbic-IBTC Bank in the metropolis.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Olanrewaju Balogun, told the court that Mokwe committed the offence at about 9:00 a.m. at the Agungi-Lekki branch of the bank.
Balogun said the accused caused panic and confusion among customers and bankers in the banking hall by publicly professing to be a member of Boko Haram insurgents.
According to him, the accused walked into the banking hall ostensibly for a transaction, but started shouting: “I am a Boko Haram member”.
He alleged that the accused also wrote ‘Boko-Haram’ on the teller in his hand.
“The accused was immediately taken out of the banking hall by security guards, who handed him over to the authorities.”
Balogun noted that the offence contravened Section 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted the man bail in the sum of N10,000 with a surety in like sum.
She adjourned the case till June 18 for mention.