Two men charged with mugging woman at Lagos ATM point

Two men were on Tuesday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates' Court in Lagos for allegedly mugging a woman at knifepoint and stabbing a man at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) point.

The duo -- John Luka, 21, and Bulus Amos, 23 -- who did not give details of their occupations and residential addresses, are

facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and assault occasioning harm.

The prosecutor, Insp. Livinus Okeke told the court that the accused committed the offences at 12.30p.m. on May 2 at the ATM of Union Bank, Ojomu Market, Lekki, Lagos.

Okeke said the accused tried to steal money from one Miss Pauline Ogebe, a customer, who had just used the machine.

``The accused who came in a motorcycle accosted Ogebe after he had just finished using the ATM.

``They threatened her by putting a knife to her ribs and ordered her to give them the N5, 000 cash she had just withdrawn from the ATM," he said.

Okeke said one Mr Unity Osayuwame a customer of Union Bank, who had come out of the bank, witnessed the mugging.

``Osayuwame immediately rushed to the scene of the incident to help Ogebe ward off the attack.

``While Osayuwame fought the accused, they stabbed him on the right side of his face with a knife."

Okeke added that Osayuwame and Ogebe raised an alarm which alerted passersby, who apprehended the accused.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 recommends three years imprisonment for assault occasioning harm, while Section 409 provides a two-year jail term for conspiracy.

The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N40, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case to May 25 for mention.