An Ejigbo Senior Magistrates’ Court 2 sitting in Lagos State on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 arraigned a 33-year-old unemployed man on a one-count charge of impersonation after he allegedly posed as a police officer and extorted money from unsuspecting drivers in the state.
The accused, Abah Arome, of an unknown address, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the court.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Femi Adeleye, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence around 2:30pm on Monday, October 19, 2015 at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.
Adeleye said: “The defendant on the said date and time did claim to be an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by wearing a police uniform.
“He also stood on Iyana Ipaja Highway and extorted money from commercial drivers and motorcyclists plying the said route.’’
According to the prosecutor, the defendant claimed he was a legally employed police officer and used the platform for extortion.
The offence breached the dictates of Section 77 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011, according to the prosecutor.
The Magistrate, Mr A.A Fashola, granted Arome bail in the sum of N100,000 and ordered that he should present one surety in like sum, who must be resident in the state.
Also, the surety, whose address must be verified, should also present evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Fashola subsequently adjourned the case until Monday, November 23, 2015 for further mention.
