The Nation Newspaper

Tag: theft

  • 19-year-old faces N1.3m alleged theft charge

    A 19-year-old Ibrahim Wasiu, who allegedly attacked and robbed a motorist in traffic of N1.3 million and other valuables, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, whose address was not disclosed in court, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and robbery.

    The prosecutor, ASP Eranus Nnamonu, told the court that the offences were committed on March 4 at 9 p.m., along the Ojo Expressway, Lagos.

    He explained that the accused attacked one Mr Stanley Meziem while he was driving his vehicle in traffic on Ojo Expressway.

    “The defendant at knife point, forced out Meziem through his car window, assaulted him and obtained his digital camera, Ipad and N1.3m cash,” Nnamonu said.

    Prosecution said that the offences violated Sections 294 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She also ordered that the defendant should deposit N20, 000 at the deputy registrar’s office as part of the bail condition and adjourned the case to June 11 for mention.

  • Guard charged with N11, 000 theft

    Guard charged with N11, 000 theft

    A Tinubu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday granted security guard, Samuel Moses, N50,000 bail for allegedly stealing N11,000.

    Magistrate Olaitan Ajayi, ordered him to produce two sureties in the like sum.

    Moses, who lives in Jakande Housing Estate, Lekki, Lagos denied the charge.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sergeant Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 28 at Ikoyi Branch of UBA Plc on Awolowo Road.

    He said the guard stole the money from one Mr Mohammed Adamu under the pretext of helping him to pay it into his son’s account.

    “The complainant, who is an illiterate, had approached the accused in the banking hall to help him fill a teller for N11, 000 which he intended to send to his son.

    “Moses filled the amount on the teller in his own name instead of filling it in Adamu’s son’s name.

    “The accused also filled Adamu’s name and phone number as details of the depositor.

    “After the accused had completed his fraudulent act, he gave the teller to Adamu who ignorantly went to pay the money into Moses’ account in the bank,” Ighodalo said.

    The prosecutor said the next day, Adamu went back to the bank to lodge a complaint that his son had yet to receive the money he sent to him the previous day.

    “Fortunately, the complainant had a copy of the teller in his possession.

    “When the bank officials inspected the details on the teller, they discovered that the accused had substituted his account details with that of Adamu’s son.’’

    Ighodalo said the bank officials immediately blocked Moses’ account, adding: “On May 4, Moses tried unsuccessfully to withdraw money from his account and he went to report his inability to access the money in his account to the bank staff.

    “The staff, on noticing that his account was blocked due to fraud, alerted the authorities.”

    The case has been adjourned to June 6.

  • Man remanded for theft

    Man remanded for theft

    Chief Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe of an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered a 58-year-old man alleged to have stolen a N120,000 phone to be remanded in prison custody pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The prosecutor, Inspector Eramus Nnamonu, alleged that the defendant used a toy gun to rob one Chief Omololu Adegbuyi.

    Peter, whose residence is unknown, was said to have committed the offence on February 24, this year at Gbagada Junction, Lagos.

    The accused was arraigned on a one-court charge of stealing before Magistrate Komolafe.

    According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Nnamonu, the offence was contrary to  Act, Cap. 398 vol. XX11 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended.

    However, when the charge was read to the defendant,  he pleaded not guilty to the one count charge preferred against him by the police.

    But Chief Magistrate Komolafe rejected his plea, saying that the court would wait for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Subsequently, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused, pending the advice of the DPP.

    The court granted his request and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe adjourned the matter till June 4, this year.

  • Firm sues MTN, others for intellectual property theft

    For allegedly using the Emergency Recharge Card Service (ERCS) without the approval of the patent owner, four telecoms giants have been sued to the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They are MTN Nigeria Communication Limited; Airtel Networks Limited;  Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (ETISALAT) and GLOBALCOM Limited.

    The firms were sued before Justice Saliu Saidu by a company, Erosalem Global Limited, for allegedly disregarding the plaintiff’s right over its invention (ERCS) with Patent no: NG/P/2009/634 by integrating the service on their platforms and benefitting financially.

    In a writ of summons marked FHC/L/CS/1694/14, the plaintiff is seeking an order of court compelling the telecom firms to account for all profits they made through the unlawful use, supply, sale and application of its ERCS invention.

    The plaintiff wants the court to order the defendants to pay 50 percent of all the profits made from inception of the package as well as interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 percent till judgment is given, and 12 percent thereafter,  till the entire sum is fully liquidated.

    It is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the telecom firms and their agents from using, selling, applying, providing to their subscribers or anyone, the plaintiff’s ERCS, which involves the process and application of borrowing airtime to telephone prepaid subscribers either through the use of SMS, USSD code, printed recharge card, customer care or any other mode.

    The plaintiff alleged that it invented the ERCS in 2008 and 2009, adding that it was the first to ever develop the concept.

    It averred that the invention was patented in 2009, which was not prior to that time, part of the methods or applications of any telecommunication in Nigeria or the world over.

    Hence, the plaintiff is praying the court to award N5 billion against MTN for alleged breach of confidence,  as well as N25 billion jointly against the defendants for the unlawful use of its Patented right.

    Stating its case, the plaintiff averred that after obtaining its Certificate of Patent (CofP), it sought a platform where the invention could become accessible to the public and through one Chibuzor Eronini (the inventor), approached MTN (first defendant) who invited it to a meeting held on March 12, 2010.

    It claimed that the meeting held at MTN’s office with Eronini representing the plaintiff while one Lynda Saint-Nwafor, a senior management staff, represented MTN.

    The plaintiff claimed that it gave a detailed presentation at the meeting and explained the workings of the ERCS to MTN,  which was impressed and expressed serious interest in implementing the product on its platform as a telecom provider.

    It stated that MTN then collected the written proposal of the product prepared by the plaintiff titled “Proposal for Emergency Recharge Service” (ERS), MTN,  which was a confidential document and promised to get back to Erosalem Global with the intention of entering a partnership to sell the product to MTN subscribers.

    The plaintiff averred that MTN deliberately refused to contact it on the way forward after obtaining its confidential information contained in the proposal and it eventually reached out to MTN on May 22, 2012, through email asking why the telecoms company failed to get back to it on the ERCS.

    According to Erosalem Global, it got a surprising reply from MTN (Nwafor) which said: “Unfortunately, MTN has moved on and currently in the implementation phase of this solution. Do take care for now.”

    The plaintiff further claimed that the ‘keep talking with MTN Xtra time’, currently being provided by the service provider was its ERCS invention.

    It stated that while MTN started the unlawful use of Its patent in February last year, Airtel started it in February 2013, with Etisalat and Glo commencing their in March and May, last year.

    Erosalem Global Limited claimed that its ERCS invention was being sold by the defendants in large scale to their millions of subscribers without its consent or approval.

    It averred that the defendants’ actions have infringed on its proprietary right over the invention of the ERCS, noting that despite writing the defendants in August last year, to desist from the act and compensation it, they continued the willful infringement of its right.

    Consequently, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that it is the bonafide owner and registered proprietor of ERCS and that MTN by unlawfully using a confidential information received from it on March 12, 2010, without its consent has breached its (MTN’s) duty of confidentiality.

    But in its statement of defence,  MTN denied the allegations, noting that the concept was not exclusive to the plaintiff.

    It described as false, Erosalem Global’s claim to originality of the concept of airtime credit service or advance airtime service.

    MTN alleged that as far as 2007, a British Virgin Island registered company, Urbis Telecom Corporation applied for and was granted patent over the idea of airtime credit advancement, and has sold the concept in various countries of the world and grants licences to other companies or organisations interested in making use of the idea.

    MTN further contended that its Xtra time service was different from the plaintiff’s ERCS, noting that Erosalem Global’s Patent involved the purchase and use of emergency recharge card vouchers by a subscriber at a value lesser than the stated value of the recharge card.

    It claimed that while the plaintiff’s patent involved the purchase and use of vouchers before a subscriber can enjoy the service, no such requirement was needed on its Xtra time service.

    MTN further denied the alleged breach of confidence, stating that no confidential information was communicated by the plaintiff, describing it as false and speculative.

    Praying the court to dismiss the suit and award substantial cost against the plaintiff, MTN described the suit as frivolous, speculative,  gold digging,  vexatious and a calculated attempt of exploitation.

    Like MTN, Etisalat also claimed that the practice of airtime advancement has been in existence in other parts of the world with requisite intellectual property registration, prior to the grant of Patent right in 2009 to the plaintiff.

    The matter has been adjourned to July 9, 2015.

  • Two sales’ reps charged with N10.02m theft

    Two sales’ reps charged with N10.02m theft

    Two sales’ representatives yesterday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing about 250 cartons of drugs worth N10.02 million from Grace Drugs and Health Care Ltd.

    They are Frank Edeaghe, 39, and Omotola Hassan, 31.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Jimah Iseghede told the court that the accused committed the offence at the drug store, on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere between March 2 and April 12.

    Iseghede said the complainant, Grace Drugs and Health Care Ltd., discovered that several cartons of drugs were missing during an audit.

    Iseghede said the offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate A.F. Adeeyo granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case till May 21.

  • Man arraigned for theft

    A 27-year-old sales representative, Oluwatosin Idowu, has been arraigned before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing goods worth N6, 860, 481 from Brand Regimen System Limited.

    The charge reads:”That you Oluwatosin Idowu, between August and October 2014, at Brand Regimen System Limited, situated at 1A Tinubu Road, Ilupeju, did obtain American honey, Cardans Irish Cream and Atlanic beverages worth (N6, 860, 481), properties of the company mentioned above on pretext to sell the goods and deposition to the company’s account which you failed to do.

    “That you, Oluwatosin Idowu on the same day did steal N6, 860, 481) property of Brand Regimen System Limited.”

    Prosecuting police officer Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the offences contravened Sections 312 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Idowu pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate A.A Fashola, granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    He ordered that the surety must be the defendant’s relation and must show evidence of tax payment for the period of three years.

    Magistrate Fashola adjourned the matter till May 5.

  • Man, 31, in court for alleged N53.6m theft

    A 31-year-old man, Kehinde Lateef, on Monday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N53.6 million from Sterling Bank.

    Lateef, a former student of Lagos City Polytechnic, lives at 16, Igbeyin Adun Street, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chidi Okoye, however said Lateef committed the offences with others, who are now at large, on February 22, at Sterling Bank Headquarters on the Marina in Lagos.

    He said the accused stole N53.6 million by making illegal transfers online through the bank’s Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBBS) Instant Payment platform from two customers’ accounts.

    “The accused was able to gain access to the bank’s system because he was a student on industrial attachment in the year 2013 at the time of the fraud. He made the illegal transactions to accounts domiciled in other banks,” the police said.

    Okoye said the transactions were blocked when the bank discovered the illegal transfers.

    “While N52.5 million was salvaged, N1.1million was already withdrawn by Lateef and his syndicate. After thorough investigations, Lateef was apprehended after two years,’’ he said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Magistrate A.O. Awogboro granted Lateef N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case to May 6.

  • Girl, 18, arraigned for ‘theft’

    An 18-year-old girl, Mary Ogah, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court for allegedly stealing gold jewelries valued at N5 million.

    Ogah was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Komolafe.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Eranus Nnamonu said the defendant and another at large conspired to commit the alleged offence last March 9, at Alausa Secretariat, Lagos.

    The prosecutor said gold jewelry valued at N5 million belonged to  Mrs. Folashade Ogunnaike.

    The offence is contrary and punishable under Section 409 and 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    Mrs. Komolafe granted the defendant bail for N1 million, with a deposit of N100,000 with two sureties, who must be a relation and a tax payer.

    She adjourned till March 30.

     

  • Friends held for ‘theft’

    two friends, Adedara Adeyemi ( 42) and and Yusuf Yakubu (36) have  been arraigned before  a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja,  Lagos State for allegedly stealing N 4,550,000 from an oil marketer Mr Dayo Abanikanda.

    The men were arraigned before Chief Magistrate  Y.O.  Aye-Afunwa on a four-count charge bothering on conspiracy and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samson Ekikere said the complainant, Mohammed Idris, had wanted to buy diesel and approached the defendants who introduced him to a petroleum dealer, Dayo Abanikanda.

    According to him, the defendants on completion of the transaction did not pay the petroleum dealer but asked him to return for his money on a particular date.

    It was later discovered that the defendants, after collecting the money from Idris, did not pay Abanikanda whom they bought the product from.

    The prosecutor said the offence was committed last July at about 4:00pm at Lekki, Lagos.

    Ekikere told the court that the offence is punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Mrs Aye-Afunwa granted them bail for N500,000, with one surety each, and adjourned till April 27 for trial.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Boy, 22, killed over alleged N42, 000 theft

    A middle aged woman, Christiana Edeh, has appealed to the Edo State Government and Inspector General of Police to help her unravel the cause her son’s death in police custody.

    Her son, Chibuike, was arrested on last Friday after management of Protea Hotel, where he worked accused him of stealing N42,000 belonging to a customer.

    His body was later found along Sapele road by a good samaritan who took him to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where he was confirmed dead.

    The deceased mother spoke to reporters when she led a protest to the premises of the hotel demanding explanation about how her son died.

    Christiana told newsmen that she saw her son hale and healthy at the Police Area Command where he was detained and that the police asked the family to pay the N42,000.

    She stated that when the family took the money to the police at about 12noon, they were told to return at 3pm because all the policemen were on duty at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia stadium to provide security for Dame Patience Jonathan visit.

    According to her, “I last saw my son at the police station. There was no injury on his body. We were told the IPO was not around. My children went back and was told my son was not there at the police station. They said he was taken to Protea hotel. I earlier saw my son name on the police notice board but his name was not there around 3pm.

    “We were called at 10pm that his body was at the hospital. He told me he didn’t collect any money. The hotel management has not told us anything now.”

    Aggrieved family members shut down operations of the hotel and sat in front of the hotel gate weeping.

    Security was beefed up at hotel but the protesters forced their way in but did not destroy any property.

    Younger brother of the deceased, Ikechukwu, said it was somebody that informed them that the brother’s corpse was at the hospital.

    He said they observed that the brother had a broken neck, burnt on his back and several cut on his body.

    “We were told that the car dragged my brother for several meters and that the driver ran away.”

    A staff of the hotel who refused to give his name said the hotel management reported an incident that happened at the hotel and was yet to get report.

    The staff said a customer complained about missing item and refused to speak further.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie, said the deceased confessed to stealing the money and was knocked down by a Toyota Camry after retrieving the money.

    Joseph said the driver of the vehicle has been arrested but refused to give further details about the car and driver.

    His words, “A case of stealing was reported by the Management of Protea Hotel where the deceased was working. He was arrested at Adesuwa police station and while there, he made a confessional statement admitting stealing the money”.

    “Even the theft was captured by Protea hotel CCTV camera and he also told the police that the money was at the fence of the hotel and NNPC mega station along Sapele Road.The police went with him to recover the money.”

    “Ordinarily, the IPO and the CSO of the hotel went with him to recover the money and on getting to Protea hotel, he (Chibuike) took to his heels and in the process was knocked down by an oncoming Toyota camry car.”

    “The Toyota Camry car and the driver of the car are right at the central MTD.”

    On the burnt part of the victim, he said, “That is for investigation to do. I’m not detailed for the investigation and I wouldn’t know…Of course if a vehicle knock somebody down and even result in taking the life of that person, I don’t imagine that the body parts of that person will still be very much complete if we have to go by that.”

    “Police investigation is not done on the pages of Newspapers or on the tube of television. Since there is already a case that is pending, anybody that has any material information that will help in unraveling the mystery surrounding these issue should come forward to police, a case file is already opened on the matter instead of casting aspersion on police.”