Magistrate jails Police Officer for stealing AK47, amunitions, sales to bandits

A Police Officer has been mailed for two years by the Minna Chief Magistrate court for stealing Ak47 Magazine, and amunitions and selling them to bandits.

The Police Officer who is in the rank of Inspector has earlier.been dismissed before prosecution commenced

The officer identified as Inspector Yahaya Mohammed, a second in- Command in-charge of armory with the Niger State Police Command headquarters was said to have conspired with Ndaman Gana who is also an officer in-charge of state police command armory department.

The convict was arraigned on two count charges which bordered on Criminal Conspiracy and theft of Ak47 magazine and unlawful dealing in sale of Ak47 magazine and amunitions.

According to the police prosecutor, Ahmed Saidu DSP, the two count charges contravened sections 97,(2), 288 l of the penal code and section 27 (6) (111) act 28 law 2004.

The Police First Information Report (FIR), made available in court and obtained by our reporter revealed that through a credible Information received from a reliable source to the Department of State Service (DSS), attached to Rafi Local Goverment in Kagara, in Niger state.

“That unknown person transported goods inside Ghana must go bag suspected to be arms to Kagara motor park.

“Police detectives swung into action and arrested you ex- Inspector Yahaya Mohammed a police officer formerly attached to department of operation second in-Command state Amory Minna.

“During police investigation you ex-police inspector conspired with Ndaman Gana officer in-charge of state armory attached to department of operation OPs Minna and both of you stole away 22 magazines and 61 life amunitions of different Calibre property of the Niger State Police Command.

“Both of you sold each magazine at the rate of N1000 each amunitions was sold at the rate of N650 to one ex- corporal Sani Mohammed formerly attached to Mopol 12 Minna”, the First Information Report stated.

When the charge was read to him by the presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan, he pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor Ahmed Saidu DSP then told the chief Magistrate to invoke the provision of Section 190 of the administration of Criminal Justice Law of Niger State by convicting him summarily and quickly added that the convict is diagnosed with cough hemophysis.

“My Lord, the convict, is diagnosed with a disease known as cough hemophysis the medical report is attached to the First Information Report.

“Your worship the disease in question is contagious in nature. I pray the court to take cognizant of the medical report to see how the convict would not join other inmates not be infected with the disease as is a communicable disease that is my humble prayer”, he told the court.

While passing her Judgement, the chief Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan expressed disappointment with the conduct of the convict as a police officer saddled with the responsilities of protection of lives and property of the citizens.

“Is quite unfortunate as a police officer that your duty is to protect the lives and property of the citizens you now engage in selling amunitions to armed bandits that are terrorising and killing innocent citizens across the country.

“I will be lenient with you while convicting you with an option of fines as a result of the contagious disease and with the medical report attached to the first Information report.

“If not because of the disease I would have convict you without option of fine so that other inmates would not be infected with the disease. You hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.”

Chief Magistrate Fati Umar Hassan then directed that he should be taken to Chanchaga leprosium colony to serve his jail term if he could not pay the fine.