The Nation Newspaper

Tag: theft

  • Man docked over alleged theft of generator

    Man docked over alleged theft of generator

    A 65-year-old man, Adeyemi Abu, who allegedly stole a generating set valued at N48, 000 was on Wednesday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ota, Ogun.

    Abu, of No. 11 Shittu St., Iyana Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a one-count charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rosemary Samson, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 19 at about noon at No. 59, Mashalasi St., Baba Konkola Area, Ota.

    Samson said that the accused stole a generating set valued at N48, 000 belonging to one Shola Daramola.

    She said that the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Revised Law of Ogun, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Miss Temitope Adebutu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    Adebutu ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

    She directed that the surety should produce a one-year tax clearance and submit a recent passport photograph to the court.

    The magistrate also said that the address of the surety should be verified by the police.

    The case was adjourned till November 20, for trial

     

     

  • Two arraigned for alleged N5.3m theft

    Two men, Isaac Ojo and Oni Olumidegba have been arraigned at an Ogba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N5.38million.

    The defendants, who are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing were arrested on September 5 at Obi Village, Domestic Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The prosecutor, W. Thomas, an Inspector, alleged that the accused stole the sum of N5.38million from Saidu Maikankan.

    The offence, the police said, contravened Sections 409 and 285(1) of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

    The charge reads in part: ‘’That you, Isaac Omotayo Ojo, Oni Olumide and others, now at large, on September 5, 2105, at Obi Village, Domestic Airport, Ikeja, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing.

    ‘’That you and others at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal a sum of N5, 380, 000 ­ property of one Saidu Maikankan.’’

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

    They were granted bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties must posses a three-year  tax clearance, must reside in Ikeja and must have their addresses verified.

    The magistrate ordered that they be remanded in the prison custody till they meet the bail conditions.

    The case has been adjourned till November 11.

     

     

  • Two docked for ‘stealing’ N4.2m phones

    Two docked for ‘stealing’ N4.2m phones

    Two men, Isah Ali and Kashalla Hassan, were Wednesday arraigned at a Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing two cartons of brand new phones at Computer Village in Ikeja.

    Ali, 36, Hassan, 35, and others now at large, were accused of committing the offence at about 5am, on October 10, 2015, at No. 4, Otigba Street, Ikeja.

    The court was told that the suspects conspired with each other and stole the phones, valued at N4.2million, property of one Mr. Duru Remy.

    The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samson Ekikere, informed the court that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused, who were read the charges in Pidgin English, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Y. O. Aje-Afunwa, granted the suspects N500, 000 bail each and two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the matter till November 25 for trial.

  • Bridge railings theft suspect held

    Bridge railings theft suspect held

    THE police have smashed a three-man syndicate which specialised in stealing bridge railings in Lagos.

    Musa Inusa, 32, was arrested at Costain last Monday while carting away the stolen railings.

    Inusa’s two other colleagues, Abdullahi and Ibrahim fled on sighting a police patrol team.

    Lagos Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said his men intercepted the suspect and his gang members while carting away the stolen railings.

    Disu said: “On the fateful midnight, policemen from RRS while on routine patrol at Costain by National Art Theatre, intercepted three men, one was pushing a cart with ten-cut-to-size aluminium bridge rails and the other two were coming behind him. On sighting the police approaching, two of the suspects, Abdullahi and Ibrahim ran away and Musa was arrested.

    “Upon completion of our preliminary investigation, we found that the suspect and his gang members are in the habit of cutting down the rails of highway bridges which are meant to save lives when eventualities occur on the highway within the metropolis.”

    Disu said efforts were on to apprehend Ibrahim and Abdullahi.

    The suspect told the police that they cut the bridge railings into pieces and sizes before selling the aluminium to buyers at Ijora and Oyingbo markets.

    Inusa told police: “I am one of the three-man syndicate stealing bridge rails across the state. We have our own market where we sell the stolen rails. I came to Lagos in 2010 from Kano to search for means of livelihood, all my efforts to secure a job was fruitless. It was Ibrahim who introduced this robbery act to me. The midnight I was arrested, I, Ibrahim and Abdullahi went to Costain by National Art Theatre and stole 10 pieces of aluminium bridge rails. Suddenly, on our way home, we were intercepted by the RRS men.”

    He said they have two businessmen who buy the stolen goods from them.

    “We always sell one pole of bridge rail to one Alhaji Ibrahim at ijora at the rate of N7,000 and another man simply identified as Baba Supo at Oyingbo. My own job is to convey the stolen items to the buyers while the duo of Abdullahi and Ibrahim do the sawing and cutting,” he said.

  • Oil theft: Shell loses 37,000bpd

    Oil theft: Shell loses 37,000bpd

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loses an average of 37,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd)  from its Joint Venture facilities in the Niger Delta to oil thieves.

    Its Head, Right of Way Management (RoW), Mr. Afohron Sekobe, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday  at a seminar for select media executives with the theme Effects of Pipeline Vandalism, Crude Oil theft and Encroachment Issues  lamented that  oil theft, equipment failure, sabotage, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining as the main sources of pollution in the region.

    But he said investigation revealed that sabotage and criminal breach of oil facilities accounted for over 75 per cent of spill incidents from SPDC JV pipelines last year alone.

    Giving details of how oil thieves operate in the region, he explained that  over 92 per cent of oil volume spilled from SPDC facilities  between 2010 and last year was caused by activities of oil thieves.

    He said breach of pipeline security and other illegal activities such as stealing of well head equipment caused the deferment of additional  110,000 bpd.

  • Freelancer arraigned for N2.5m theft

    Freelancer arraigned for N2.5m theft

    A 46-year-old Freelancer, Roseline Olanrewaju, was arraigned before an Isolo Magistrate’s court in Lagos for alleged N2.5million fraud.

    She was arraigned before Magistrate Joy Ugbomoiko on a one-count charge of theft.

    Prosecuting Seargent Oje Uagbale told the court that the defendant committed the offence between January and October 2014, at a pharmaceutical firm on Osolo Way, Isolo, Lagos.

    Uagbale said the defendant who was freelancing with the company, collected goods with the pretence that she was going to pay back in cash incurred debt up to the tune of N2.5million.

    He said the offence contravened Section 313(b) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    She pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Joy granted the defendant N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case was adjourned till September 30.

  • Man arrested for stealing ram in Jigawa

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Jigawa, on Saturday said it arrested a 25-year old man for allegedly stealing ram.

    Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Dutse, that the suspect was arrested in Yalwawa Quarters by members of the community.

    According to the commandant, the ram belonged to one Malam Alasan Dogo and that the suspect was nabbed red handed while dragging the ram away.

    “The suspect has confessed to committing the offence and will soon be charged to court,” he said.

    NAN recalls that the command had on July 22, arrested three suspects, who allegedly connived and stole a ram in Gida-Dubu quarters, also in Dutse.

  • Man jailed 14 years for stealing N51m

    Man jailed 14 years for stealing N51m

    An Oredo Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced a 45-year old man, Gbenga Lawal, to 14 years imprisonment.

    Gbenga was jailed for stealing the sum of N51, 168,230, belonging to Lukas Corporate Business Nigeria Limited.

    The offence was committed between 2008 and 2010 while the convict worked as manager of the company.

    Gbenga was arraigned in 2010 on a seven count-charge of stealing and altering purchase books of the company.

    Presiding Magistrate, Frank Idiake, found Gbenga guilty on count two and seven and acquitted him on other charges bothering on stealing 3,484 cartons of medium stout beer valued at N11, 877, 807m.

    Magistrate Idiake sentenced Gbenga to seven years imprisonment with hard labour each on count two and seven.

    Idiake ruled that the sentence was without option of fine and that the sentence is to run concurrently.

  • Bus conductor jailed for stealing phone

    Bus conductor jailed for stealing phone

    A 21-year-old bus conductor, Shedrach Ezekiel of Mararaba, was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court for stealing a phone valued at N11, 000.

    The presiding judge, Albert Maga, convicted Ezekiel after he pleaded guilty for the offence of conspiracy and theft.

    The convict, who pleaded for leniency, said, “I don’t have anybody here, I came to this town to look for job but it has not been easy for me.”

    Maga said that the accused had not been able to give tangible reasons to the court on why he should not be punished for the offence.

    He said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like minds.

    “However, the prosecutor was unable to prove the charge of conspiracy as the other suspect is still at large.

    “The court hereby discharge the accused on the charge of conspiracy and sentence him to 18 months imprisonment for the offence of theft,” Maga said.

    The judge, however, gave the convict an option of N4, 000 fine and also ordered him to pay the complainant N11, 000 as compensation for the stolen phone.

    Earlier the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji told the court that the convict was first arraigned on Aug. 14 but remanded in custody for his accomplice to be arrested.

    Adaji said that Ezekiel stole a Nokia phone valued at N11, 000 from the bag of one Luka Ruth at Brother Plaza, Mararaba.

    He said that when the convict was caught in the act, he threw the phone to his accomplice, who is now at large.

    The prosecutor said the convict contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code.

  • Court sentences student for ‘theft’

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, yesterday sentenced a student to one week community service without an option of fine over theft of cable wires worth N200,000.

    Magistrate O.A. Komolafe gave the ruling after Abayomi Adebayo pleaded guilty to charges preferred against him.

    The accused, 23, was charged with a four-count charge bordering on stealing, wilful damage and breach of peace. Earlier, the Prosecuting Sergeant Joseph Ajebe, said that the accused committed the offence on August 16, at Mosco Road, IJaiye, Lagos.

    Ajebe said that the accused broke and entered the warehouse, where Etisalat Nigeria Limited mast was mounted and stole the wires.

    “The accused used an iron spanner to destroy the padlocks in order to gain entrance into the premises.

    “The security men guarding the mast caught him while he was trying to escape with the wires and handed him over to the police,’’ he said.

    Ajebe said that the offences contravened sections 21,166,307 and 337 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.