A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Badagry, on Friday, sentenced two Beninese, Sossou Marc, 34; and Wesu Abdulraman, 30; to five years imprisonment each for assault.

Chief Magistrate N. A. Layeni sentenced them after they pleaded guilty to assault.
The police also charged them with felony, theft and breach of peace.

The Chief Magistrate, however, gave the convicts an option of N500,000 each.

He adjourned the hearing in another three-count charge until July 18, for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Officer, Insp Edet Ekpe told the court that the convicts committed the offence on May 15, at about 12.10 p.m. in Pipeline Area, Imeke, Badagry.

Ekpe said that they stole a bag containing N276,500 belonging to Ms Chinyere Onwuka, the complainant.

“They pushed the complainant from a motorcycle after stealing her bag which contained N276,500. She sustained injuries all over her body.

“The convicts conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
“The convicts are trans-border robbers from the Republic of Benin, they came to Imeke on motorcycle mainly to steal.

“The complainant has a POS shop at Imeke,” he said.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 287, 297 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.