Woman, two men docked over $12,780 theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA
Lagos — A 34-year-old woman, Chigozie Luke, and two men were, Wednesday, arraigned  before an Ikeja  Magistrate's Court over alleged theft of valuables worth $12,780.

The other suspects are Olajide Balogun, 43, and Ayobami Odunfa, 30. They were docked before Magistrate Demi Ajayi.

The accused who reside at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, preferred against them by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Barth Nwakaoye, said the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offence on June 1, 2012  at John Gabe Nigeria Ltd, Maza Maza, Lagos.

He said the suspects who were staff of the company stole a bag containing 204 pairs of shoes, cam-coder, jeans shirts, handbags and other valuables.

Nwakaoye said the stolen items worth  $12,780 were property of Mrs Ifeoma Oyeoka.

The prosecutor told the court that  the goods were sent to her from the United States of America and meant to be transported to Enugu by the company.

According to him, the offence  contravenes Sections 285 and 409, Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate A. A Demi-Ajayi granted the suspects bail in the sum of N250,000 each with two responsible sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to September  25, 2013.

Meantime, a 26-year- old bus conductor, Shola Okeseyi, was, yesterday, remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja Magistrate's Court over alleged robbery.

The accused who resides at 22, Odofin Street, Itire, is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and robbery, brought against him by the police. He was arraigned before Magistrate Dan Oni.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired to commit the alleged crime on June, 25, 2013, at 12, Jacob Close off Isiba street Itire Lagos.

He said that the accused at about 3:35pm, while armed with gun and other dangerous weapons robbed one Mr Festus Osagie of his lap top valued N75,000, one Nokia 2100 valued N10,000  and cash sum of N15,000.

He also alleged that the defendant stole a Techno handset worth N15,000 and a cash sum of N10,000, belonging to one Samuel Adeniyi.

The prosecutor claimed that the suspect while armed with gun and other dangerous weapons robbed one Njoku Ignatius, of his Nokia Phone valued N8,500 and a cash sum of N7,500.

The prosecutor said that the offence committed is contrary to section 5 (b) and punishable under section 1 (2) (a) of the robbery and firearms special provisions Act, Cap 398, Vol xxii, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, as amended.

When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilt to the four count charge, but his plea was not taken, as the magistrate ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody.

She further adjourned the matter to August, 2, 2013, for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution