Five remanded for robbery

An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Thursday remanded in prison custody five persons charged with conspiracy and robbery. The five are: Ibrahim Gariba, 21, an apprentice; Enoch Kofi, 18, student; Abubakari Ali, 18, mechanic; Ali Shaibu Jara, 26, a secretary; and Emmanuel Abrokwa, 28, driver.

Their plea was not taken and they are to appear again on November 23. Prosecuting, Police Superintendent Elizabeth Allandu told the tribunal presided by Mr Mohammed Nabon that on November 4, a gang of eight (including the five accused), entered a pharmacy owned by Mr. Ebenezer Osagyefo Bediako at Achimota, Accra armed with locally manufactured pistols, knives and a cutlass.

With Gariba as leader, they robbed the sales girl at gunpoint, stealing three mobile phones and three million cedis in cash. They also took 220,000 cedis from a shop customer. As the gang sped away in a waiting taxi, some "Good Samaritans" gave them a chase and stopped them.

Five members of the gang escaped and police arrested three. Police investigations led to the arrest of two other accomplices, leaving three still at large.