The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Man accused of stealing N190,000

    32-year-old man, Sunday Idikwo, on Monday appeared at an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, accused of stealing N190,000 belonging to a hotel.

    Idikwo, whose address was not provided, is facing a one-count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Mary Ajiteru told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, at 1, Olatunji Shokefun Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    Read Also: Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    She alleged that the defendant stole the N190,000 belonging to Shokis Hotel, an offence that contravened Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate Mrs. C.K. Tunji-Careena admitted the defendant to N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.

  • Startimes marketer allegedly defrauds customers of N2.1m 

    An employee of Startimes, Victor Opeyemi, was on Monday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding five customers of N2.1 million.

    The customers are Mrs Gloria Idoko, Mr Isa Akakiu, Mrs Christiana Umeobi, Mr Chibuzor Okafor and Mr Sulaimon Ismaila.

    Opeyemi, 34, a resident of Mushin, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences before Magistrate Mrs M. O. Tanimola.

    Prosecuting Inspector Aondohemba Koti told the court that the defendant committed the offences in May on Fatai Atere Way, Mushin.

    He alleged that the defendant obtained N2.1 million from the company’s customers on the pretence of supplying them Startime decoders, visual play systems and recharge cards.

    Read Also: Woman arraigned over alleged N22.9b received from ex-NSA Dasuki

    Koti alleged that Opeyemi failed to supply the items to the complainants after they had paid for them.

    He alleged that the defendant collected the goods from his company, but sold them to other persons described as ’illegal customers’ and converted the money to personal use.

    The prosecutor said the complainants informed the company of the alleged fraud, which led to the arrest of the defendant.

    Opeyemi pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Tanimola granted him N400, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned till September 9.

  • Police nab three students for alleged rape

    Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested three students of the School of Health Technology, Akure, for allegedly gang-raping a female student of the institution.

    The suspects, according to the command, are Aderoboye Damilola, Eyitayo Charles and Blessing Michael.

    They were alleged to have committed the crime last Wednesday at the home of the boyfriend of the victim.

    Sources said the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the command had begun investigation.

    Read Also: Police nab abductors of burrow pit owners

    He said: “We have begun investigation into the matter. After investigation, the suspect will be arraigned.”

    A source alleged that the victim was gang-raped by the suspects in her boyfriend’s house, which is not far from the campus of the institution, on Oda Road area of Akure.

    He said: “The victim went to visit her boyfriend late in the evening last Wednesday, but she did not meet him at home. She met another boy, who is a friend to her boyfriend.

    “She decided to wait for him (boyfriend). Suddenly, the three boys (suspects) entered the room with weapons and ordered the boy they met inside to have sex with the lady, but he refused. It was after that that they raped the victim.”

  • Navy seizes 46,000 litres of illegally refined petrol

    The Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS) in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has seized 46,000 litres of illegally refined petrol (AGO) at locations under its command.

    Three suspects have been arrested by NNS operatives and handed over to the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for investigation and prosecution.

    Also impounded were a truck loaded with 40,000 litres of AGO and a Volkswagen Passat car with number plate Fj 744APP.

    NNS Head of Operations Lt. Commander U. A. Sidi, while handing over the suspects to the NSCDC, said the feat was achieved during operations between August 9 and 19.

    He said: ‘’On August 9, based on intelligence report, a coordinated land and sea patrols were conducted by the Base along Osifia creek in Ibeno Local Government and Umade waterside, Ikot Abasi Local Government.

    ‘’During the patrol, a truck loaded with about 40,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO and two suspects were arrested at about 2030 along Port Harcourt Road, Uyo.

    Read Also: Navy seizes 130 vessels in two years

    ‘’Although the driver presented a paper of loading from Bulk Energy, it was dated May 22, and physical examination of the product indicated likelihood of compromise. Hence the arrest was made and the suspects along with the product were brought to base.”

    Sidi further said: ‘’Similarly, on August 10, another suspect and a Volkswagen Passat car with registration number Fj 744APP, laden with 50 cellophane bags of suspected illegally refined AGO, was arrested. The team immediately conducted a follow-up operation to the loading site and confiscated additional products.

    ‘’A total of about 1500 litres of illegal refined petroleum products were recovered from the scene. Additionally, on August 12, another bunkering site at Catamaran circle, Old Market Road, was raided and a Volvo car registered as AS 744 MAG, containing about 1500 litres in cellophane bags, was seized and evacuated to the base.”

    Receiving the suspects, the state Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC, L. S.  Raymond, said the command would investigate the matter.

    He said the suspects would be prosecuted and warned those engaged in crude oil bunkering to desist from such act, “as oil theft is an economic sabotage.”

  • Two face robbery charge

    Two suspected robbers, Tunde Lawal, 26, and Muhammad Alli, 29, were yesterday remanded at Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos for alleged armed robbery.

    Magistrate Mrs. E. O. Okpara had ordered that the defendants be remanded because of the magnitude of the offences they committed.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Adetutu Sanusi alleged that the defendants committed the offences on March 17, at 19, Anifowoshe Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendants with others at large conspired to rob Mr. Abimbola Osholaja of his valuables and N1.5 million cash.

    Read Also: Unemployed man remanded for phone robbery

    Sanusi alleged that the defendants also assaulted Osholaja by hitting his forehead with a gun, which caused him injury.

    “They robbed Mr. Sunday Okorie of his belongings and N1 million cash,’’ the prosecutor said.

    Sanusi said the defendants were armed with one locally-made single barrel pistol and a live cartridge.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 411, 174, 300 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The court did not take the defendants’ plea.

    The magistrate ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) for legal advice.

    The case continues on September 30.

  • Court strikes out theft case against trader

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kaduna, at the weekend, struck out a case of theft against a 29-year-old trader, Mary Joshua.

    The trader, who lives in Kaduna, was charged with theft on July 2.

    Magistrate Hajara Dauda struck out the case after the prosecution counsel, Inspector Sunday Baba, told the court that parties in the matter had agreed to settle out of court.

    Dauda, therefore, discharged the trader.

    Read Also: Trader allegedly absconds with clients’ $2,900

    “Based on the reconciliation made by the complainant and the defendant to settle out of court, the case is hereby struck out and the defendant discharged.

    “The defendant should write an undertaking that she will not steal or commit any crime as the court won’t take it lightly with her,” Dauda said.

    The prosecutor told the court that on June 24, at about 2:30 pm, Janet Moses of Sabo Tasha Kaduna lodged a complaint against the defendant at the Sabo Tasha Police Station.

    Baba said on the same day, the defendant came into the complainant’s shop located at Sabo Tasha to get some change, but in the process stole her purse.

    The prosecutor added that when the complainant raised the alarm, the defendant was searched and the said purse was found on her.

    The offence, he said, contravened Section 270 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

  • Court sentences man to three months for stealing generator

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, FCT, at the weekend sentenced a 23-year-old artisan, Luka Gaza, to three months in prison for stealing a generator from a building site.

    Magistrate Jim Taribo sentenced Gaza after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft.

    Gaza, who lives at Paseli area in Kuje, however, begged the court for leniency.

    Read Also: Ex-banker to spend 10 yrs in prison for stealing depositors’ money

    Taribo, who did not give the convict any option to pay fine, said the punishment would act as a deterrent to others

    Prosecuting counsel Oliver Orgen had told the court that the complainant, Mr Ayuba Sule, reported the matter at the Kuje Police Station on August 10.

    Orgen said Gaza and two others at large entered the complainant’s building site and stole a generator valued at N150,000.

    The offence, he said, contravened sections 96 and 287 of the Penal Code.

  • Bricklayer gets 10 months for breach of trust

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna at the weekend sentenced a 45-year-old bricklayer, Ahmadu Garba, to 10 months imprisonment for breach of trust.

    Magistrate Christiana Barau sentenced Garba to three months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of breach of trust and criminal misappropriation.

    Barau, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N5000 for each offence or serve out the three months.

    Read Also: Ogun bricklayer allegedly caught with human skulls, body parts

    The magistrate also ordered the convict to pay N100, 000 to the complainants as compensation or seven months in prison in the event of a default.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ahmed Ali had told the court that Messrs Dele Martins and Simon Iko reported the case at the Tudun Wada Police Station last year.

    He said the complainants contracted the defendant to renovate a house on Talba Estate, Minna, where he stole some building materials.

    “He carted away two bundles of zinc, seven flush doors, four door frames, two shower trays and wooden planks, which were entrusted in his custody.

    “The defendant sold the items and converted the proceeds to his use,” the prosecutor said.

    When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

    The prosecutor thereafter prayed the court to try him summarily in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

  • Man charged with theft in Asaba

    A 24-year-old man, Mr Chidi Paul, was at the weekend arraigned before Asaba Magistrates’ Court 5 for alleged theft.

    Paul, who is standing trial on a one-count charge of theft, pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Edith Anumodu, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety in like sum.

    Anumodu said the surety must be resident in Asaba, Delta State and should provide affidavit of means and deposit two passport photographs to the court.

    Read Also: Uber driver charged with theft

    She adjourned the case till August 20 for definite hearing.

    The Prosecutor, Mrs Blessing Okafor, had told the courts that the defendant committed the offence on August 4 at Stop-abortion Junction, Asaba.

    Okafor alleged that the defendant stole a play station valued at N38,000, one memory card valued at N15,000, four pads valued at N10,000 and 10 DVD cassettes valued at N2,000, totaling N65,000.

    He said the items were entrusted in the care of the defendant by Mr Chucks Michael, the owner of the properties.

    She said the offence contravened Section 390(8)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

  • Man, 31, remanded for allegedly defiling minor

    An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ibadan, at the weekend ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Mutiu Hassan, in prison custody for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr O. Adisa, who did not take the plea of Hassan, ordered that he should be kept in Agodi prison and the case file sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    Adisa adjourned the case till August 30 for mention.

    Read Also: Anglican Priest jailed five years for defiling minor

    The defendant, who lives at Anfaani Asabari Junction area of Ibadan, is facing a charge of defilement.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Salewa Hammed had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 12 at 2pm at his home.

    Hammed said the girl’s mother had sent her and her brother on an errand to buy bread, when the defendant lured her to follow him.

    “Her mother searched for the girl and later found the defendant on top of her under the staircase.

    “She reported the case at Orita Challenge Police Station,” the prosecutor said.

    Hammed said the offence contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000.