The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Richard Odigie

  • Teenager gets N50, 000 bail over break-in and theft of N1,100

    A 19-year-old man, John Akwaji, who allegedly stole his neighbour’s N1,100, was on Wednesday released on N50,000 bail on the orders of a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Ikobayo, who gave the ruling, also gave the accused one responsible surety in like sum as part of the bail condition.

    She said the surety should also provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government

    Akwaji, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of unlawful entry and stealing.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Richard Odigie told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 30 at Edomia Street,  Oke-Ira Nla in Ajah area of  Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused unlawfully entered Mr Samson Popoola’s house at about 3. 20 a.m. and stole N1, 100.

    “The accused is in the habit of entering the complainant’s room to steal but was caught when he came calling again.

    “The complainant sighted him when woke up to go to the toilet, he raised alarm and the accused was apprehended, ” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 285 and 306 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 285 provides a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 306 stipulates seven years imprisonment for unlawful entry.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until May 5 for mention.

  • Man faces fraud charge

    A 59-year-old man, Lateef Durojaiye was on Friday arraigned in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a man of N7000, 000

    The Prosecutor, ASP. Richard Odigie, told court that the accused had in August 2016, collected N700,000 from one Saidu Rafiu at Igodo Oloja community in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

    Odigie said that the accused collected the money to supply metal drums to Rafiu but converted the money to his personal use.

    He said that Durojaiye had refused to refund the money to the complainant and had absconded but was recently apprehended.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Section 285 stipulates three years imprisonment for theft while Section 312 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for fraud.

    The accused, who is facing a two-count charge of fraud and theft, however, denied the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Ikobayo, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until April 24.

     

  • Man arraigned for hitting neighbour with iron rod

    A man, Friday Koku, who allegedly hit his neighbour with an iron rod in the face, was on Friday released on N500, 000 bail on the orders of a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F.O. Ikobayo, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two responsible sureties in like sum.

    The 25-year-old is facing a charge of assault occasioning harm to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Richard Odigie told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 14 at about 4.00 p.m. at Sapati Village, Ibeju-Lekki, and Lagos.

    He said the accused allegedly hit his neighbour, Friday Koku, with an iron rod in the face during an argument which eventually led to a fight.

    The offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended) which, on conviction, attracts a three-year jail term.

    The case was adjourned until April 24 for mention.

     

  • Carpenter, bricklayer docked over theft of building materials

    A carpenter, James Ayowande, and a bricklayer, Idowu Ishola, who allegedly stole building materials valued at N1.7million were on Friday brought to a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ayowande, 59, and Idowu, 31, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft.

    The duo, however, denied the charges.

    The prosecutor, ASP Richard Odigie, told the court that the accused had between November 2015 and Feb.3, 2017 at Lagasa in lbeju Lekki area of Lagos State conspired to steal.

    He said that the duo stole 262 bags of cement; 2,200 decking woods, roofing planks and iron rods.

    Odigie added that the accused also stole two bags of nails and 2,000 cement blocks, all valued at N1.7 million belonging to Mr Clement Kagwachie, their employer.

    Odigie said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285(1) states that, “Any person who steals any property is guilty of a felony, and liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for there (3) years.’’

    The magistrate, Mrs F. O. Ikeobayo, granted the two accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties each.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until April 28 for mention.

     

  • Man arraigned for impersonation, pre-paid meter fraud

    Man arraigned for impersonation, pre-paid meter fraud

    A 42-year-old man, Gbenisoye Akano, on Tuesday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court over alleged impersonation of staff of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to defraud a woman of N130,000.

    The accused is facing a three-count charge of impersonation, fraud and theft.

    Akano allegedly collected the money from the complainant, Mrs Oluwakemi Abimbola, on the pretext of supplying her a prepaid meter.

    The prosecutor, ASP Richard Odigie, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 5 at about 10.00 a.m. at Opeyemi Close, Good Gbenisoye AkanoNews Estate, Ogombo Ajah, Lagos.

    Odigie said the accused posed as an official of the EKEDC attached to Marina Branch while committing the offences.

    He said the accused with three others still at large came with a ladder and posed as EKEDC officials and threatened to disconnect electricity supply to the house of the complainant.

    “Abimbola, a new landlady in the estate, pleaded with them and they insisted that she must get a prepaid meter which the accused and his accomplices told her will cost N130,000.

    “After transferring the money into the accused’s account, she did not hear from him again,’’ Odigie said.

    The offences contravened Sections 78 (a), 285, 312 (1) (a) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 78 stipulates four years imprisonment for impersonation, Section 285 provides three years for theft, while Section 312 prescribes 15 years for offenders.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Ikobayo, granted the accused a N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the two sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the other surety should be a civil servant.

    The case was adjourned until April 28 for mention.

     

  • Banker arraigned for alleged N250,000 fraud

    The Police on Wednesday arraigned a former banker, Christopher Ademola, 49, at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged N250,000 fraud.

    The accused is being tried on a four-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery, theft and impersonation.

    The Prosecutor, ASP. Richard Odigie, said the accused committed the offences on Jan. 21 at about 10:00 a.m. at Okesuna Street on Lagos Island.

    He said that Ademola, a sacked employee of one of the new generation banks, under a false pretext, obtained N250, 000 from one Balikis Sholaja, a customer of the bank.

    Odigie alleged that Sholaja, who thought the accused was still a staff of the bank, entrusted him with N250, 000 to assist her to open a fixed deposit account.

    The prosecutor told court that the accused also forged the bank’s credit alert text message and sent it to the complainant as evidence that he had opened the fixed account.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 78 (a), 285, 312, 327 and 363 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F.O. Ikobayo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She ordered that one of the sureties must own a car while the other should have landed property in Lagos.

    Ikobayo adjourned the case till March 15 for hearing.

     

  • Cobbler docked for allegedly defiling twins

    The Police in Lagos yesterday charged a 23-year-old cobbler before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping six-year-old twins.

    The defendant, Yusuf Ojuolape, a resident of 23, Okearin Street, Lagos Island, is facing a charge of defilement of the two minors.

    Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odigie told the court that the crime was committed between January 18 and 22 at the defendant’s residence.

    “The defendant and the mother of the victims live in the same house; the victims live in the second flat, while the defendant resides on the ground floor. The victims accused the defendant and another – still at large – of inserting their fingers into their private parts on six previous occasions without their mother’s knowledge.

    “The victim’s mother was bathing the victims and she noticed swollen parts on their bodies. She asked them and they said the defendant assaulted them. Immediately, she went to the defendant’s flat, but nobody was around. The victims became scared anytime they passed by the defendant’s apartment while on errand. The victims’ mother reported the case at the Adeniji Adele Police Station and the defendant was arrested while the other culprit is still at large,” Odigie said.

    According to the prosecutor, the alleged offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail by Magistrate S.O. Solebo in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

    Solebo ordered that a proper medical check be conducted on the victims at a General Hospital since the medical report presented by the prosecution was “not clear.” The matter was adjourned till March 3 for mention.