For John Otu, a 23-year-old security guard, his decision to put on an Army uniform so as to be a witness for a friend standing trial in a robbery case, has back fired as his cover was blown and he was arrested, reports New Telegraph.
Otu confessed that he decided to wear the Army uniform to the court in Agege, Lagos State, in order to be accorded respect by members of the judiciary, but his plan did not sail through as he was arrested even before he got to the court premises.
According to Otu, who told the police that he aspired to be a military man, his friend, a co-security guard at a former place of work, was standing trial for murder and had begged him to come and testify on his behalf.
He claimed that he bought the uniform at Ojo Military Cantonment and decided to wear it to court, under the firm belief that it would sway the case in their favour.
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“I bought the Army uniform at Ojo barracks when I went to sign Army recruitment form. I bought it with the hope that I would one day become an Army officer.
I regretted my action. I did not know that wearing the uniform was a serious offence.”
Also arrested impersonating the military were Simon Anthony, 27, Izunmane John, 25, and Richard Acha, 22.
Anthony, a dismissed soldier, whose last duty was at 49 Battalion in Kaduna State but was sacked last December, was arrested for parading himself as military officer within the state.
“Some policemen stopped me at Agege area when I was going to Fagba to see a friend. My friend wanted to accommodate me because I just came to Lagos last week.
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I did not know anywhere except my friend’s place. When I was accosted, the policemen demanded to search my bag. They found my uniform inside my bag. I told them that I was once an Army officer. But they still arrested me.”
