The Nation Newspaper

Tag: theft

  • FG deploys mobile app to stem power theft, vandalism, extortion

    The federal government has reiterated its determination to stem vandalisation of national assets and infrastructures through all available legal means, including technology.

    The assurance followed the launch of an internet-based application for electricity consumers that allow users to send real time messages and video images for instant response from the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), Distribution Companies (Discos) and security agencies.

    The National Security and Crime Reporting App, known as Hawk Eye App was the result of a partnership between NERC, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Huawei and Web Asset Ltd.

    According to Kayode Aladesuyi, Web Asset Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the application was structured for complaints, information, tip-off and rescue among other features.

    He said: “People stealing power through illegal tapping or stealing of electricity cables have caused greater problems for efficient and regular distribution of power nationwide. Stealing power is a great challenge, tapping power for free is detrimental to national development. Over 115 people died from live wire electrocution in 2015, which is regrettable because such incidents can be prevented if neighbours or witnesses have avenues to make reports for instant response from relevant authorities.”

    The representative of NERC, Abdul Mohammed, Deputy General Manager (Engineering Standards) said the application was not only to ensure the safety of electricity infrastructures nationwide but also to bring electricity consumers closer to the Discos and NERC.

    Harry Cui, who represented the technical partner, Huawei also guaranteed the success of the application saying that the country’s land mass and infrastructure challenges has made the usage of the application expedient.

  • Seun Egbegbe denies phone theft allegations

    Seun Egbegbe denies phone theft allegations

    Embattled filmmaker, marketer and CEO of Ebony Films, Seun Egbegbe, has denied stealing some phones as alleged. According to the estranged lover of popular actress, Toyin Aimakhu, he was on his way to get money from his car to pay for the phones when an alarm was raised, with the shop attendant accusing him of theft.

    An official statement from Egbegbe states that though story is pretty laughable, he has a responsibility to set the records straight.

    “To say the least, the news did not only grossly misinform unsuspecting public; it also portrays traces of campaign of calumny by some mercenary hell bent in destroying my name, for reasons best known to them…

    “I want to state here categorically and emphatically that though I was at Computer Village to address some issues, but I was never arrested for stealing 10 iPhone 7s, as stated by the writer of the story. The matter has since been resolved by the Nigeria Police; and the issue of me stealing phone is devilish from the said writer,” he said.

    According to information, a mob at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State, Tuesday, beat up the filmmaker for allegedly stealing nine iPhones at a shop in the area. It was learnt that Egbegbe had gone to the shop around 10am with the intention of buying some iPhones.

    He was said to have left the shop with the phones, telling the seller that he wanted to pick money from his jeep. However, according to reports, he attempted to leave in his vehicle without paying for the phones when the sales boy raised the alarm, drawing the attention of other traders in the area who stopped the vehicle and dragged Egbegbe out.

  • Petrol station manager bags four years for N2.3m theft

    Petrol station manager bags four years for N2.3m theft

    An Ogba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos has sentenced the manager of an MRS filling station in Akoka, Lagos, Friday Amedu, to four years’ imprisonment with hard labour for stealing N2,397,650.00.

    Magistrate K. A. Ogundare found Amedu guilty on two counts of stealing and conspiracy preferred against him by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    Amedu, who was arraigned in January 2014, was convicted and sentenced to two years on each count without an option of fine.

    The sentence will run consecutively.

    During the trial, prosecuting Inspector Cousin Adams told the court that the offence were contrary to and punishable under Sections 409 and 285(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Adams, said Amedu and one Simeon Ejiro, now at large, broke the security safe of the petrol station and stole the said sum.

    The court heard that Amedu was the only custodian of the key to the safe and its security code.

    The prosecution, which tendered five documents, also called five witnesses, including the owner of the fuel station, Mrs Nkechi Okeke and four of her staff.

    Although Amedu denied the charge, claiming that his office was burgled by Ejiro, Magistrate Ogundare held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

  • Alleged fraud: Prosecution’s absence stalls ex NAMA chief’s trial

    Alleged fraud: Prosecution’s absence stalls ex NAMA chief’s trial

    Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos Tuesday adjourned till December 2, to commence the trial of a former Managing Director (MD) of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam.

    Abdusalam and six others are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a charge bordering on the alleged theft and conversion of NAMA’s N6.8billion.

    At the commencement of proceedings Tuesday, Justice Kuewumi announced that there was a letter from prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo seeking an adjournment.

    Oyedepo, he stated, informed the court that he was summoned, through a hearing notice, to the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal.

    The court then adjourned the case till December 2.

    On April 7, EFCC docked the NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the agency’s directors. They denied the charge.

    Apart from Abdulsalam, other defendants are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and two limited liability companies, Randville Investment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

    In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that on August 19, 2013, the defendants conspired to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

    The EFCC stated that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

    In another instance, the commission alleged that that between January 2 and December 17, 2013, the defendants converted N191 million belonging to NAMA to themselves.

    The defendants were also said to have converted N728 million between 2013 and 2015, as well as other sums.

    According to the charge, the offence offended Sections 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and was punishable under Section 1 (3).

  • EFCC to re-arraign two Beninoise for alleged N630m theft

    EFCC to re-arraign two Beninoise for alleged N630m theft

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on October 31, re-arraign two citizens of the Republic of Benin, Gnanhoe Sourou Nazaire and Senou Modeste Finagnon, at the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, for an alleged N630 million theft.

    The commission yesterday filed an amended 12-count charge against the Beninoise before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo in Lagos, but their re-arraignment was stalled due to the absence of an English to French interpreter.

    The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Taiwo on February 17, on a seven-count charge of forgery, stealing and conversion of N630m belonging to Mrs. Rachidatou Abdou and her company.

    They pleaded not guilty and their lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), moved the court to strike out the charge on the ground of incompetency. He also argued that the EFCC was prosecuting them without a valid petition.

    But, dismissing his application, Justice Taiwo upheld the contention of prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo that the Commission received a valid petition from the complainant alleging conspiracy and stealing against the defendants.

    At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, EFCC counsel Kayode Oni informed the court of the amended charge and urged the court to allow it to be read to the defendants.

    Defence counsel Tarfa did not object but requested for an interpreter since the defendants spoke only French.

    Justice Taiwo granted his application but the prosecution was unable to provide an interpreter.

    ‘’We cannot proceed without an interpreter. The prosecution needs to expedite action in this case’’, Justice Taiwo added and adjourned till October 31.

  • Six held for stealing National Assembly diesel

    Six people were Tuesday arrested for stealing large quantities of diesel belonging to the National Assembly.

    The incident took place at the National Assembly complex, Abuja in the early hours of Tuesday.

    A source said that six of culprits were caught in the act while one escaped.

    Two of the culprits were said to be National Assembly staff while the other four came from outside the complex.

    The National Assembly staff were said to have coordinated the operation and invited their collaborator from outside the National Assembly said to be more experience in stealing diesel and other petroleum products.

    Those involved were said to have arrived the National Assembly complex around 4.20am and immediately proceded to the area where diesel is stored.

    They were said to have arrived the complex in a Gulf car led by the National Assembly staff.

    They were reported to have scooped over 11 25liter jerry cans of diesel before they were caught.

    The police is said to have launched full investigation into the incident to ascertain whether there were other National Assembly staff collaborators.

    The source said that it is believed that those caught might be behind the mysterious disappearance of diesel from the storage tanks.

  • Man defecates in court to evade trial 

    An 18-year old man identified as Abdullahi Mohammend Tuesday caused a stir at the Oredo Magistrate Court when he defecated on his body shortly before he was to be arraigned.

    Abdullahi who was accused of stealing four cartons of powder milk belonging to one Favour Nwachukwu was brought to the court by some policemen led by Sergeant Aigbochie Iruonagbe.

    After defecating on his body, he started walking around the court premises even while policemen that brought him looked for alternative clothes for him.

    Despite being handcuffed, Abdullahi took off his trousers and took to his heels but policemen caught up with him.

    The policemen later bought a bag of sachet water to clean him up and gave him some clothes to wear.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Thomas OJo, told the court during arraignment that the offence was committed on October 8, at Mission Road in Benin City.

    The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

    Presiding Magistrate, J. O Ejale adjourned the case to October 14 for hearing and ruling but remanded the suspect to prison custody.

  • Police arraign man over laptop theft

    Police arraign man over laptop theft

    A 23-year-old man, Ukanwa Justice, who allegedly stole a laptop valued N82,000, was on Tuesday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    Justice, whose address is unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 23 at 12.00 p.m. at Living Faith Church, Canaan Land, Ota.

    He said that the accused stole a laptop valued N82,000 belonging to one Oluyori Dele.

    Mustapha said that the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Vol.11, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.I. Adelaja, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adelaja said that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed.

    She also ordered that the sureties should submit four recent passport photographs to the court and produce one year tax payment to Ogun Government.

    In addition, the Magistrate said that they should swear to an affidavit of means and their addresses should be verified by the police.

    The case was adjourned till Dec. 27 for hearing.

  • Eight in court over 1,000 stolen chickens

    Eight in court over 1,000 stolen chickens

    Eight persons on Tuesday appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in Osun over the theft of 1,000 chickens from a poultry farm.

    The accused include Odebiyi Yinka, 20, Ayoola Samson, 20, Cecilia Ochilla, 35, and Elizabeth Akira, 30.

    Others are: Oyelami Tajudeen, 30, Regina Philip, 40, Grace Odelia, 35, and Akira Hanna, 24.

    The accused and others at large are facing charges bordering on stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Taiwo Adegoke told the court that the accused committed the offence between the months of May, June and July at Erin-Osun, Osogbo.

    Adegoke said the accused conspired with others now at large to steal 1, 000 chickens owned by one Mrs Titilayo Akulo.

    He said that Odebiyi and Ayoola, who are co-workers at Aluko Poultry Farm, conspired to steal 1, 000 chickens valued at about N1.5 million.

    The prosecutor said the accused sold the chickens to the six other persons at the total sum of N1.2 million.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 516, 390(9), 383(9) and 427 of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Counsel to the accused, Mrs Bose Dada, prayed the court to grant her clients bail in the most liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, granted the accused bail in the sum of N 100,000, with two sureties each in like sum.

    Aluko said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

    He adjourned the case to Nov. 25, for hearing.

  • Man jailed for stealing groundnut oil

    Man jailed for stealing groundnut oil

    A 22-year old man, Evans Ewansesehia, has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by an Egor Magistrate Court for stealing three gallons of groundnut oil.

    Police prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Lucky, informed the court that the convict committed the offense on November 17, 2015 at Idemudia Street, off Lagos Street in Egor local government.

    Sergeant Lucky said Evans stole the three gallons of groundnut oil valued at N12, 800 belonging to Mrs Joy Adiodun

    Lucky told the court that the convict escaped from lawful custody after he was arrested and detained at Ugbowo police station.

    He said the convict also stole N12, 000 belonging to one Mrs. Victoria  Imayehor on December 2, 2015 at Uwasota road.

    Presiding magistrate, Mrs Esohen Ighodan found Evans guilty of the charges of stealing and escape from lawful custody preferred against him.

    She however gave an option N30, 000 fine on each for the two count charges.