Dismissed officer accused of armed robbery claims police conspired against him

James Ejeh, a dismissed policeman charged with armed robbery, on Wednesday told an FCT high court that his colleagues set him up.

Testifying in his defence, Ejeh told Peter Kekemeke, the presiding judge, that it was a conspiracy against him by some of his former colleagues.

When asked by the prosecuting counsel, Kufreabasi Ebong, how possible it was for all three police officers and two civilians who testified to conspire and lie against him, he described it as a normal practice.

He said: “Sir, it is not a new thing, they (police) conspired against me because that is what police have been doing.”

Answering if he was not a policeman, he said, “right now I am not a policeman but I worked in operations when I was there”.

The police charged Ejeh and Simon Abraham in 2017 with conspiracy and armed robbery.

The second defendant’s counsel, Ocheme Adama, however, informed the court that he was ready for his defence.

After listening to the defence, Kekemeke adjourned the matter until March 18 for the continuation of trial.

The police alleged that the two dismissed policemen, armed with guns and a knife, robbed a certain Christie Maker and her driver of their personal belongings and a Mazda 626 car.

Police said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 1 (2) and 6 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2004.