Three docked over alleged theft of N400,000 property

Three men- Gbenga Jimoh, 29, Lukmon Adegbola, 27, and Abubakar Mohammed, 35, were on  Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing property valued at N400,000.

The trio, who live at Alagbado, Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods.

The defendants allegedly committed the offences on Feb. 9 at Alagbado, Lagos, the Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court.

He said that two of the defendants, Jimoh and Adegbola, unlawfully entered into the workshop belonging to one Mr Shola Akinborode and stole his property.

“Jimoh and Adegbola stole three batteries, two jerrycans of diesel, one steering box and a tyre, all valued at N400,000 and sold the items to Mohammed.”

ALSO READ: Gov Matawalle directs schools management to eat same food fed to students

Ayorinde said the complainant received a tip-off from a neighbour that his former apprentice was the culprit behind the theft.

“An informant told the complainant that one of his former apprentices, Jimoh, was sighted in his workshop stealing those items.

“When Jimoh was apprehended, he led the police to the arrest of others,” the prosecutor said.

Ayorinde said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 287, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years’ jail term for stealing, while Section 328 prescribes 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen goods.

Following their pleas of not guilty, the Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi released the defendants on bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

Osunsanmi said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until March 9 for further hearing.

NAN