22-year-old man gets N50,000 bail over alleged theft of shirts worth N8,000

A 22-year-old man, Jamiu Habeeb, who allegedly stole 10 shirts worth N8000 from a trader, Mohammed Isah, was on Friday in Lagos granted a N50,000 bail.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, who gave the ruling at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, ordered the accused to provide one surety as part of the bail conditions.

Etti said the surety must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The accused, who entered a ‘not guilty’ plea, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused, who resides at the Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos, committed the offences on Nov. 21, at Ijora Market, Apapa, Lagos.

Kokoye said that the accused and his accomplices, now at large, conspired to steal 10 shirts worth N8000 from Isah’s shop at about 3:00 p.m.

The prosecutor claimed that the accused and his accomplices went to the complainant’s shop pretending they were customers interested in buying shirts.

He said they picked 10 shirts and ran away without paying.

Kokoye explained further that the complainant raised an alarm about his stolen shirts and other traders ran after the accused.

“Habeeb was apprehended by some traders, while his accomplices escaped with the shirts,” he said.

Kokoye said that the complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.

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He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287 prescribes three years’ imprisonment for stealing, if convicted.

The case was adjourned until Dec 21, for mention.