Three teenagers docked for armed robbery

Culled from Vanguard

Three teenagers have been arraigned before a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, over a three-count-charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

They are: Jamiu Saka 18, Chukwudi Onwuharanye 18, David Onokpise 19, and Yusuf Lateef 20. It was gathered that the defendants entered a church during a vigil service and robbed God’s children of their valuables.

According to the charge, the defendants robbed a clergy, Apostle Nelson Opara, of his handset and money, and one Okon Esther  was robbed of two Visafone phones and one BlackBerry Curve 3, during the vigil service.

Count one of the charge reads: “Jamiu Saka, Yusuf Lateef, Chukwudi Onwuharanye, and David Onokpise, on 19 May, 2012, at  Sowers Ministry International No. 64A Kirikiri Road, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State, in the Lagos Division conspired to commit felony to wit: armed robbery.”

All the defendants live in Ajegunle, and had the charge read to them in English and Yoruba languages.

The plea of 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants was taken in English language, while the plea of 4th defendant was taken in Yoruba. They  pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the State of Lagos.

The prosecutor, Mr O. Soetan, informed the court that the alleged offence was contrary to Section 295 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

He therefore asked the court for a trial date to enable his witness to be in the dock for  his evidence, stressing that he had agreed with the defence counsel on 29th and 30th of September.

The presiding judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, subsequently adjourned to September 29 and 30 for continuation of trial.

At least three killed in Japan tunnel collapse

At least three people were killed and two women injured when a section of a four-km-long tunnel collapsed in Japan Sunday, media reports said. 

The Sasago tunnel in the Chou expressway in Otsuki, about 80 km west of Tokyo, collapsed around 8 am, trapping many cars inside, Xinhua reported citing Kyodo News. 

Two people were taken to hospital. Firefighters managed to control a fire triggered by a crash of two vehicles after the ceiling and wall collapsed in a 100-metre section of the tunnel. 
The cars were crushed after the 20-cm-thick ceiling collapsed in a 50-60 metre section of the cave. A woman, who managed to escape the collapse, said she was in a car in which five others were trapped. 

Rescuers were earlier forced to withdraw from the tunnel as engineers at the site warned that the tunnel's structure was unstable and might collapse again. After hours of suspension, rescue work restarted around 4 pm. The operator of the highway, Central Nippon Expressway Company, apologised for the incident. The company said that in a regular check in September, they did not find any defects inside the tunnel.