The severely injured victim, James Ihonde, a native of Benin City, who now is at hospital, told the police about what had happened: "I went to Hi-Tech yard to eat in a canteen and I met a man in military uniform with his friend inside the canteen. I requested for food from the owner of the canteen.
"Suddenly the man in the military uniform barked at me and said I have no respect for the Nigerian Army and that I was supposed to salute him, a military man, before requesting for food inside the canteen.
He later said I must pay him and his colleague the sum of N3,000 as bribe before I could eat food in the canteen.
Immediately I replied that he has no right to challenge me inside the canteen, the man and his friend descended on me and beat me with military belt and wood.
They stripped me naked and
inflicted injuries on my two
eyes and parts of my body.
They stole my handset, the
N4,000 in my pocket and the
sum of N6,000 belonging to the
owner of the canteen. They
later demanded for the sum of
N3,000 from me as bribe
before they could allow me to
go and treat myself.
Residents in the area
contributed the money and
gave it to them before they
abandoned me and left the
scene."
After the incident, the police
officers traced the suspect to a
beer parlour and arrested one
of them. During interrogation,
Emmanuel Joseph, the arrested
suspect, confessed to the crime
and denied being a military
officer.
When asked about the military
camouflage uniform he was
wearing, Joseph said that he
wears the uniform to cheat
members of the public because
he was jobless.
"I am not a soldier. I wear the military camouflage to harass and intimidate people and dispossess them of their belongings to survive since I am jobless.
I learnt the military tactics when I attended a military secondary school in Akure, Ondo State. I regret my actions," he allegedly told the police.
The fake soldier has being charged before a Tinubu Magistrate's court, Lagos on a five-count charge of felony to wit, assault occasioning harm, stealing and impersonation.
The offences the suspect committed, said the prosecutor, Supol A. C. Orji, contravened sections 409, 171,285 and 77a of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the Magistrate, Mrs. S. K Matepo, admitted him on bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till 24 September, 2013 for mention, while the defendant was taken to Ikoyi Prisons pending when he will fulfil the bail conditions.
Dat serves him right.useless man ao could he say he was jobless,must he batter a being like him in oda to survive?useless fellow
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