The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alleged theft

  • Banker charged with alleged theft of N3m from ATM

    The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos yesterday charged a  Bank worker, Mrs. Chinonye Okafoagu, for allegedly stealing N3 million from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    Okafoagu, 33, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Salawu of an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and false modification of ATM data.

    The police, in a charge marked N/73/2017, alleged that the banker and others now at large, committed the offence on March 7, last year, at the FESTAC branch of the bank.

    The defendant allegedly, without lawful authority, modified the ATM’s data and stopped the machine from dispensing money, “in a bid to steal the N3m”.

    According to the police, she misrepresented herself as, Elizabeth, the woman authorised to handle the bank’s ATM on the said date, and appended her signature in the ATM loading staff register, which she presented to the bank’s management.

    The alleged offences contravene and are punishable under sections 409, 285(7), 389(1), and 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okafoagu pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Salawu granted her N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 25, for trial.

  • Film producer in court for alleged theft of ‘N.25m

    Film producer in court for alleged theft of ‘N.25m

    A 38-year-old film producer, Mojeed Owolabi, who allegedly defrauded Mr. Taiye Alabede of N250,000, was yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Owolabi, of unknown address, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 20 on Abeokuta Expressway, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused fraudulently obtained N250, 000 from the complainant with a promise to edit a video cassette for him.

    “The complainant, who was introduced by a friend to the accused, gave his video cassette to him for editing and the accused billed him N250, 000.

    “He collected the money but refused to edit the cassette. Efforts made by the complainant to collect his cassette or money back proved unsuccessful.

    “The accused was arrested after seven months,” the prosecutor alleged.

    He said the offences contravened sections 285 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Y. O. Ekogbulu, granted the accused bail at N100,000 with two sureties.

    She said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Ekogbulu adjourned the case till September 29 for mention.

  • Man held for alleged theft

    Man held for alleged theft

    A 26-YEAR-OLD man, Chukwunonso Onyewe, was yesterday arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for absconding with his friend’s belongings worth N200, 000.

    The defendant, a resident of 2 Romukurushi Road, Port-Harcourt, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odijie said the defendant committed the offence last November 28 around 5a.m.

    Odijie said the defendant passed the night with his friend, Kehinde Solanke, at Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa, adding that while the friend was asleep, he absconded with some items worth N200,000.

    He said the accused stole two cell phones, a gold necklace and N22,000 cash all valued at N200,000.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant was apprehended through the help of another friend, a female, who chatted with him on a social media platform (WhatsApp).

    Magistrate M.B. Folami granted the defendant N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the matter till February 8.

     

  • Teenager arraigned for alleged theft

    A teenager, Tope Oluwashola,  has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing a computer laptop belonging to one Abiona Olusola.

    Oluwashola, 19, is facing a three-count charge.

    Police prosecutor, Inspector E. I. Nnamonu told Chief Magistrate A. O. Komolafe of Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court that Oluwashola with others, allegedly burgled  Olusola’s at No. 1 Muyideen Adeoye Street, Ogudu Orioke, Ojota last month and stole one Ipad phone valued N115,000, a Niopa laptop worth N95,000 and  N250,000 cash.

    He said the offence is contrary to Section 309(a) and punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    But the defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe granted the defendant bail for N100,000  and one surety.

    She orderd that the surety must be a blood relation and must show evidence of tax payment and verifiable address.

    She later adjourned the matter to May 21, 2011.

  • Labourer, 31, arraigned over alleged theft of employer’s N750,000

    A 31-year-old labourer, Samson Adamu, was on Friday arraigned for stealing his employer’s N750,000.

    Adamu, who gave his address as Pelewura Market, Lagos Island, Lagos, is facing a charge of conspiracy and stealing at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Aondohemba Koti, told the court that Adamu committed the offences alongside others who are now at large, around 12.20 p.m. on Feb. 16, at No. 101/102, Nnamdi Azikiwe St., Lagos Island, Lagos.

    He said that Adamu, who was employed by one Mr Franklin Okeke, a trader, to do some menial jobs, stole a total sum of N750,000 from his employer, spanning some unspecified period of months.

    Koti said that Adamu, along with his accomplices, were alleged to be stealing some amounts from a safe in Okeke’s shop, anytime he left the shop to do some transactions.

    The prosecutor said that luck, however, ran out on Adamu one day when Okeke returned to his shop after a business transaction, only to discover that his safe had been damaged.

    Koti noted that Okeke confronted Adamu, who admitted to have stolen N750,000 from him over a period of time.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Okeke, the complainant, was in court as a prosecution witness.

    The Magistrate, Mr.  M.L. Owolabi, granted the labourer bail in the sum of N40,000 with two sureties in like sum.

  • Alleged theft: AGF takes over Okorodudu’s case

    Alleged theft: AGF takes over Okorodudu’s case

    Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday heard that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to quit the prosecution of Cross Country Transport Limited boss, Bube Okorodudu.

    Okorodudu is standing trial before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, alongside his firms, Cross Country and Car Link Limited, for allegedly stealing N82.8 million by fraudulently selling 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and Adeloye Olukemi.

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, a lawyer from the office of the AGF, D.E. Kaswe, told the court that the EFCC was no longer prosecuting the matter.

    He said the AGF took over the matter from the commission on September 8, while the court was on vacation, adding that the case was taken over because of a sister criminal case before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Praying the court for an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office collect the original file it requested from the EFCC, Kaswe said it would enable them examine the files and reach a conclusion.

    The defence counsel, Taiwo Taiwo, said Okorodudu had voluntarily reported himself to the police as directed by the court on July 1.

    “The first defendant (Okorodudu) was in their custody and came to court on July 14, but the court could not sit due to the strike by judiciary workers. He was thereafter granted administrative bail by the police and the reason he is not here today is because I was not aware that the matter would be coming up today,” Taiwo said.

    After hearing the submissions of both counsel, Justice Lawal-Akapo observed that the directive by the National Judicial Council (NJC) was that judges should give priority to high-profile criminal cases.

    He said: “I am not in any way impressed with the explanation given by the prosecution counsel that the AGF office is still trying to take over the original case file from the EFCC since September 8. Counsel from both sides should assist the court in dealing speedily with this matter.”

    He held that the bench warrant issued against Okorodudu on July 1 was still in force.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the police to arrest and produce him in court at the next adjournment fixed for December 2.