Ill-health stalls retired general’s arraignment over attempted murder 

The scheduled arraignment of a retired army general, Alhaji Abdul Rauf Tijjani, before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja over allegation of robbery and attempted murder was stalled yesterday due to his ill health.
   
The 67-year-old defendant (Tijani) is also a recipient of national award of Order of Federal Republic (OFR). He was charged alongside Akanni Suada for alleged attempt to kill one Maria Febisola by shooting her with a gun.
   
The state filed five-count charge against them before Justice Hakeem Oshodi. Their offence bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, robbery, assault occasioning harm and killing of an unborn child. Their offence run contrary to Section 231, 228, 295, 171 and 234 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
   
The state alleged that the duo while armed with a rifle, robbed Febisola of the sum of N2.5 million, a hand bag containing some cash and jewelry worth N3 million. Also, Tijjani was alleged to have unlawfully killed an unborn child by causing rupture of the foetus in the womb of one Abidemi Ahmed.
   
Part of the charge reads: “That Alhaji Abdul Rauf Tijjani, Akanni Suada on October 11, 2013 at about 9:20p.m. at No. 117 Akowonjo Road, Lagos, attempted to kill one Maria Febisola by shooting her with a gun.”
   
However, at the proceedings yesterday, when the matter was called, counsel to Tijjani, Mr. O.A. Afolabi, told the court that the defendant was rushed to the hospital after he slumped in prison.He said: “My Lord, the prison warders told me that the first defendant, Tijani slumped inside the prison yesterday and has been admitted at the hospital. Since then, he is yet to recover fully in order to appear in court for his arraignment.”
The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter till March 19, 2018 for arraignment.