A 57-year-old businessman, Ikechukwu Nwanyaku, on Tuesday appeared in a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ajegunle, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 5,000 U.S. dollars from a trader.
The police charged Nwanyaku, who resides in Ojo area of Lagos with three counts of assault with intent to steal, causing grievous hurt and theft.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
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The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Babatope Julius told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence at 6.20p.m. on Aug. 21, at Onirike extension, opposite Ojo Military Cantonment, Lagos.
He alleged that the defendant punched the complainant, Mr Paul Okoye, who was on his way home from his shop in his left eye and used a metal rod to injure him on the right hand.
Julius alleged that the defendant stole 5,000 U.S. dollars (about N1.8million) and N52,000 from the complainant’s pocket and pushed him into the gutter.
The complainant, he said, was badly injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 175, 246 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 175 stipulates a three-year jail term for assault with intent to steal while Section 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.
Magistrate R.E. Ojudun admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Ojudun ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the case until Oct. 17 for mention.