The police
on Thursday rearraigned 58-year-old Lateef Adiamo, the former chairman of the Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria (MODAN), Oke Ado branch before Magistrate M. Salami on a two count charge of theft based on a petition by members of the association.
He had been arraigned earlier on June 14, 2017 in a suit delineated MI/915c/2017 before Chief Magistrate T. Oladiran before the suit was transferred.
When the charges were read to him on Thursday, he pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Adeniyi Isolated, applied that the court allow him to continue enjoying the bills earlier granted him before the former magistrate as he had always made himself available in court and his sureties at also always in court.
The prosecutor, M.A. Ojei had no objection to the application that Adiamo continues to enjoy the previous bail as long as the court can verify the address of the two people that stood surety for him, adding that he just took over the matter and will need to study the file.
Magistrate Salami ordered that Adiamo continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted him after confirming that the sureties were still willing to stand for him and were with him in court.
He however informed parties that he wants speedy dispensation of the matter in order to avoid breakdown of law and order as matters involving associations can degenerate if not handled with care
Ojei stated that he is willing to go on with the case expeditiously adding that he will call five witnesses including the Investigative Police Officer who were all present in court.
Adiamo was arraigned on a two count charge signed by DSP Osakwe Pius, the Area Crime Officer 11 in Iyaganku and the charges against him bordered on felony to wit; stealing, he had pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him and a date was fixed for trial to commence.
Part of the charge read, “That you Lateef Adiamo ‘M’ and others now at large on the 29th of January 2017 at about 10.00am at Motor Dealers Association Office, Oke-Ado area of Ibadan in the Ibadan Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit; stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 CVol. II Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria 2000”
He was further alleged to at the same time, date and place in the same magisterial district steal some items which include two Nissan Urvan buses, one Mitsubushi L300 bus, articles and memorandum of the motor dealers association, certificate of registration of the Motor Dealers association and document for the allocation of the motor dealers pavilion at New Garage.
Other items he was alleged to have stolen in the charge before the court include complete office furniture for the office of the Chairman and Secretary of the motor dealers association in Oke Ado zone, photographs of past and present officers of the Oke Ado zone of the association, membership registers, receipt, invoice and other stationeries of the and other financial documents, association, cheque books, statement of accounts of the association, public address system with speakers, generating set and other items which value is still unknown.
The second offence according to the prosecutor contravenes and is punishable under Sections 388 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000
Magistrate Salami adjourned the matter till December 8, 2017 for definitive hearing