Stealing
By Deborah Akpede
Ikeja, May 3, 2018 (NAN) Two sexagenarians: Samson Erinosho and Toyin Rotimi, were on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of property worth N495,000.
Erinosho, 65, a resident of Fagba and Rotimi ,64, who lives at Abule-Oja, both in Lagos State, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace, malicious damage and stealing.
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences and were admitted to a bail of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Osunsanmi said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, had told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in March at Agege near Lagos.
He said that the accused conspired and removed the doors and windows of building apartments belonging to Messrs Experience Amedu and Alex Afekhena.
He said they also stole personal goods worth N320,000 belonging to Amedu and Afekhena in addition to N175,000 cash.
“The accused conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by breaking the complainants’ windows and doors to gain access into their rooms to steal.
“They stole: a television set, an electrical iron, a laptop, clothing, six pairs of shoes, a standing fan, a set of DVD player, luggage and a GOTV decoder: all valued at N320, 000 and N175,000-cash.”
Ayorinde said that the accused, who claimed to be agents, ordered the complainants to pack out of their rented apartments.
“The agent, (Ayomide) was alleged to have told the tenants that the owner of the house had given them the directives to be managing the property on his behalf.
“When the accused discovered that the complainants had travelled, they damaged the doors and windows leading to the apartments of both complainants.
“The agents then packed the belongings of the tenants outside from their rooms without their consent.
“When the complainants returned from their trips; they met their belongings outside their rooms and discovered that some of them were missing.
“The complainants reported the case to the police and the accused were arrested,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 168, 287, 350 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 350 stipulates two years’ imprisonment for damage while Section 287 attracts three years’ jail term for stealing.
The case was adjourned until June 13 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/HS/PAD
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Edited by Halima Sheji/Peter Dada