AN unemployed man, Mathew Stephen, who allegedly stole six bales of clothes valued at N210,000, was on Thursday granted bail by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, 32, who lives at Gatankowa Market, Abule Egba, a Lagos suburb, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi, granted Stephen, a N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Raji Akeem told the court that the offences were committed on March 28 at Gatankowa market, Abule Egba, Lagos.
Akeem alleged that the accused and others now at large burgled the shop of Mr Mohammed Abubakar and stole the bales of clothes.
“The accused and his other accomplice stole six bales of second-hand clothes and escaped.
ALSO READ: Man in court for alleged car snatching with toy gun
“The complainant suspected the accused and his other accomplices because they sleep in front of the shop every night,’’ he said.
Akeem said that ever since the complainant shop was burgled the accused and his accomplices have not been seen.
“The case was reported at the Police Station and the accused was later found and arrested while his other accomplices are still at large,’’ Akeem said.
The offence contravened Sections 287, 308 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 308 stipulates three years imprisonment for offenders.
The case has been adjourned till May 7, for the mention.
and then