NAN-H-15
Material
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, March 20, 2017 (NAN) A 35 year-old businessman, Friday Bossam, who allegedly broke into Skyline Hotel’s site to steal building materials and other items worth N847,000 was on Monday in Lagos granted a N100,000 bail.
Bossam, who entered a `not-guilty’ plea to the theft and burglary charges, is a resident of Alabi Close, Isheri, Lagos State.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, who gave the ruling, also asked the accused to produce two sureties as part of the bail condition.
The magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. Essien Ndarake, the accused committed the offences on Feb. 26 at Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja.
He said that the accused entered into the site of Skyline Hotel where he carted away building materials and other items valued at N847,000.
“The accused unlawfully entered into the site of Skyline Hotel and stole its materials,” he said.
Ndarake said that the accused who was working as a contractor for the hotel came to steal its property.
“The accused, who was given a contract to lay the tiles of the entire hotel, came to steal 43 bath basins, one grinding machine,12 pieces of aluminium sheets, 15 pieces of iron rods, one water tank,120 pieces of bamboo and 20 pieces of woods.
“Other items are: 40 pieces of water heaters, 20 ceiling fans, and a television set, all valued at N847,000.
“The accused damaged the gate padlocks to gain entrance into the hotel,” he said.
The prosecutor said that the hotel management received a tip-off from an informant that the accused came with a truck and some men to steal the items.
“The operation manager got information from a neighbour who sighted the accused when he came to load the truck with the items.
“The accused was arrested but he escaped from unlawful custody of the police
“When he was later rearrested, he claimed that he sold the items to unknown buyers who were passing along the road,” he said.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 306(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be jailed seven years if found guilty of burglary according to Section 306(2).
It also reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term if the offender is found guilty of stealing.
The magistrate adjourned the case until March 28 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/LAB/PAD
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Peter Dada