Boy, 13, Caught With Gun

A 13-year old boy, and Nurudeen Lasisi, 22, have been arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria, by detectives from State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, for being in possession of a locally made pistol and an axe.

The police said the 13-year old boy and his accomplice were arrested on 24 February, 2011 at about 12.50 at Alhaji Lasisi Street, in Idi-oro area of Mushin.

They were later arraigned before the court on a two count charge of felony and unlawful possession of fire arm, which according to the police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Jack Asuquo, are punishable under Section 516 and 428 (1), of the criminal code cap. C.17, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Count two of the charge reads: “that you Nurudeen Lasisi, 22, and Sodiq Salami, 13, on 24 February, 2011, at about 12.50 at Alhaji Lasisi Street, Idi-oro, Mushin, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully have in your possession one locally made pistol and one axe which you could not give satisfactory account of and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 428(1) of the criminal code cap. C.17, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. T. Abolarinwa granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, according to the magistrate, must present to the court voter’s registration card, tax receipt, evidence of livelihood, must be residing within the magisterial district and one of the sureties must be blood relation to the defenders.

The case has been adjourned till 20 April 2011 for trial.

—Abosede Agboola