The Nation Newspaper

Tag: theft

  • Banker arrested aboard plane for ‘N25.4m theft’

    Banker arrested aboard plane for ‘N25.4m theft’

    A former banker, who allegedly stole N25,466,330.00 from a new generation bank but was arrested in Lagos on a Dubai-bound plane, has been charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    James Oke, 28, and his alleged accomplice Moyosore Shofowora, 27, who is also a banker, was docked on Friday before Chief Magistrate B. A. Sonuga.

    The defendants, of the bank’s Ogba Branch, are standing trial on two counts of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Abbass Abayomi told the court that the defendants committed ‎the alleged offences between September 22, 2016 and July 28, 2017, at the bank’s Ogba Branch.

    He alleged that they conspired and stole N25,466,330 from the bank.

    According to him, the offences contravene Sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Oke and Shofowora pleaded not guilty.

    Their counsel Mr O. Gani and Mr U. N. Ezeokeke sought bail in liberal term.

    But this was opposed by the prosecutor on the ground that the defendants were a flight risk.

    Abayomi said: “Your honour I’m opposing the bail. The bail of the defendants should be very stringent, because if you grant them bail on liberal terms they would abscond.

    “The first defendant was about leaving the country when he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. He boarded the plane, belted himself up and the plane was just about to take off when the police came onboard and arrested him. He then led the police to the second defendant’s home where he was also arrested.

    “The defendants, after successfully defrauding the bank, tendered their resignation letters to the bank and left.

    “The bank discovered the fraud afterwards and caught their accomplice who was still in the bank’s employment. The accomplice confessed and returned all the money he stole, after which he was sacked.

    “It was this third person, who isn’t charged along with them, that told the police that the first defendant was at the airport about to leave the country.”

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Sonuga granted each defendant N5million bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

    The first surety must be a manager at Skye Bank, while the second must be a manager at Wema Bank and must own landed property.

    They must also surrender their international passports, deposit N1million into the account of the court’s registrar and have their addresses verified.

    The case continues on November 14.

  • Man gets 12 strokes of cane for stealing motorcycle

    Man gets 12 strokes of cane for stealing motorcycle

    Twenty three years old Agbola Ibrahim has been awarded 12 strokes of the cane in an open court for stealing an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle in Ibadan.

    The motorcycle was valued at N250,000 as at the time of coming the offence.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr.A.A. Adebisi gave the sentence while hearing the case at the Magistrate Court 2, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Friday.

    Ibrahim, who was arrested and arraigned by the police was said to have been nabbed while running away with the stolen unregistered motorcycle around Mokola area of the Ibadan metropolist.

    He was arraigned on one  count charge of stealing with charge No:MI/1555/2017 and pleaded guilty to the crime.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Shalewa Hammed  told the court that the accused on the 23 of August 2017 at about 2pm at Mokola area of Ibadan magisterial district did have in his possession one unregistered Bajaj motorcycle valued at about N250,000.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened section 430 of the  criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

  • House help jailed 13 years for burglary, theft

    An Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, has sentenced a house help, Anna Payaro, to a total of 13 years imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and theft of her employer’s $5,000.

    Payaro, 28, was found guilty on a five-count charge of conspiracy, burglary, breaking, entering and stealing.

    Following a 10-month trial, Chief Magistrate K.O. Matepo sentenced her to two years imprisonment each on counts one to four and five years on count five, with hard labour, totalling 13 years.

    But Payaro will spend only five years in jail, because the sentences are to run concurrently.

    The convict was arraigned by the police on June 6, 2016, and re-arraigned on a substituted charge on November 22, 2016.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji told the court that Payaro and her accomplices, who are still at large, conspired to commit the offences on May 27, 2016, at Goshen Estate, Lekki Lagos.

    Osuji said she broke into the residence of her boss, Mr Olatunde Adepoju, while he and his family were abroad.

    According to him, Payaro stole Adepoju’s jewellery valued at N1.2million, a cash sum of $5000, and N300,000.

    During the trial, one of the estate’s executives, Mrs Teniola Jaiyeola, testified that she heard the convict talking to her accomplice about the incident.

    Jaiyeola said “When I saw the broken wall and Payaro told me that it was a burglar that broke into the house, I told her that the opening at the broken wall was too small for even a baby’s head to enter.

    “I later overheard her telling someone on phone that ‘They said that the wall you broke is too small, for  a baby’s head to enter.’”

  • Vulcaniser arraigned for car battery theft

    Vulcaniser arraigned for car battery theft

    A 28-year-old vulcaniser, Tope Ogunwa, has been arraigned at an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly stealing a car battery, valued at N35,000.

    The defendant of 16, Ona-Opemipo Street, Okitipupa, is standing trial on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that on August 21, at old garage, the defendant stole the battery of a Toyota Picnic, property of Tade Gbadeyanka.

    He said the car, registered as Ondo KTP 601 AP, was kept in his custody, but when the owner came to pick up the car, the battery had been removed.

    Orogbemi added that the defendant was unable to explain the missing battery.

    He said the offence was punishable under Section 390 (9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1,  Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, granted the defendant bail at N30, 000 and a surety.

    He said the surety should produce evidence of one year tax clearance.

    Ayeomoni adjourned the case till September 28 for further hearing.

  • Security men in court for ‘theft, vandalism’

    Security men in court for ‘theft, vandalism’

    Two security men, Maurice Pius, 24 and Emmanuel Edet, 24, yesterday appeared at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly vandalising their employer’s vehicle.

    The accused are facing a three-count charge of alleged conspiracy, stealing and unlawful damage.

    Police prosecutor Cyriacus Osuji told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offences on September 17 at 9, Olayinka Adewuyi Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused conspired and damaged the rear side glass of a Honda CRV car: AAA 21 DN, belonging to the complainant, Mr. Tomina Ojo.

    Osuji, who alleged that the accused also stole items worth N410,000 from the vehicle, listed them as laptop, laptop bag, external hard drive and N40,000.

    He said the offences contravened sections 287, 350 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. S. K. Matepo granted them bail at N100,000 each with two sureties.

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

    Matepo adjourned the case till October 12 for mention.

  • RRS arrests five for ‘theft’ of rail irons

    RRS arrests five for ‘theft’ of rail irons

    The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has arrested five men for allegedly stealing 28 iron ballasts meant for rail lines.

    Hameed Atairu, 25; Akeem Muritala, 23; Lawal Muritala, 25; Tunde Olatunji, 27; and Sarafa Ishola, 38; were arrested on Friday at about 1:15am at Agege.

    They were said to in a Vanagon bus marked JJJ929EL driven by Ishola, conveying the stolen items.

    According to the police, the suspects claimed to be scrap dealers, saying that they bought the ballasts from a Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) official.

    “However, preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the iron ballast were stolen from where they were kept for use.

    ‘Further investigation revealed that the iron ballast were meant for the basement of rail lines.

    “The suspects, three of whom are ex-convicts, said they raised N35,000 among themselves to pay for the iron ballast,” an RRS source said.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) told The Nation that the suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti for further action.

  • Two in Court for ‘stealing’ cables in Ekiti

    Two in Court for ‘stealing’ cables in Ekiti

    Two persons, Olawumi Funso, 30 and Ojo Samuel, 32, have appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court alleged theft.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, said that the accused, whose address was not disclosed in court, committed the offence sometimes in the month of Sept. 2017 at new Omisanjana area in Ado-Ekiti.

    Okunade alleged that the accused stole bundle of cable wire and a box valued at N75, 000 belonging to Mrs Oyewole Funke.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 390 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    He asked the Court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty, and their counsel, Mr Babatunde Falade, for the 1st defendant and Mr Busuyi Ayorinde, for the 2nd defendant, urged the Court to grant the accused bail, promising it that they would not jump bail.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Modupe Afeniforo, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum, having a verifiable addresses.

    She adjourned the case until September 29 for hearing.

  • Scavenger jailed six months for theft

    •Another to be caned for stealing maize

    A Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja, has sentenced a 24-year-old scavenger, Yusufa Idris, to six months’ imprisonment for stealing plastic chairs and tomatoes.

    He admitted committing the offence and begged for leniency.

    The judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, gave Idris an option of N15,000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes.

    The prosecutor, John Okpa, told the court that Aminu Mohammed of Kaduna State reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on August 25.

    He alleged that Idris was caught on Arab Road, Kubwa, with three plastic chairs, one rubber bucket containing onions, tomatoes and a dead chicken.

    Okpa named other items as knife, hoe and umbrella, “which Idris confessed he stole at Gbazango, Kubwa, Abuja.

    He said the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    Another  scavenger, Anas Abdulkari, was ordered by a  court in Karmo, to be caned for stealing maize.

    Abdulkari, 20, resident of Gidan Bola Jabi, Abuja, was sentenced for criminal trespass and theft after he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

    He said: “Sir, I’m so sorry for stealing maize. I took only three maize because I was hungry; please forgive me.’’

    The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, said the punishment would have been severe if he had not pleaded guilty.

    The court was told that Alhaji Sale Ali of Jabi, behind Delta Line, reported the matter at Utako Police Station on August 21.

    The prosecutor, Mrs. Florence Auhioboh, told the court that the convict went to Ali’s farm and harvested maize without his consent.

    She said the convict, who was caught and handed over to the police, admitted committing the offence.

    The prosecutor said the actions violated sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code, and asked the court for summary trial after Abdulkadir pleaded guilty in line with Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.

  • Man in court for theft of N4.5m

    The police have arraigned Kalu Ogechi at a Karu Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing a car, valued at N4.5million.

    Kalu, who hails from Ohafia in Abia State, is standing trial on a one count charge of stealing, an offence he denied.

    The offence is punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Mr. Hassan Ishaq, granted the defendant bail at N200,000, with a surety, and adjourned the case till October 23 for hearing.

    The prosecutor, John Ijagbemi, told the court that Eunice Bob-manuel of Dawaki reported the defendant at Karu Police Station on July 17.

    He said the defendant was employed to wash and clean cars at the car washing business centre of the complainant.

    Ijagbemi said on that day, the complainant handed over her car and its key to the defendant to wash.

    He told the court that as soon as the defendant collected the keys, he ran away with the car to an unknown destination.

    The prosecutor said the car was traced and recovered in Ohafia, Abia State.

    He added that the car, a Toyota Venza, registered as BWR541PV, is valued at N4.5 million.

  • Rider faces N225,000 theft charge

    A 26-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Peter Ogunbiyi, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly stealing a motorcycle, valued at N225,000.

    Ogunbiyi, who lives at 5, Matogun Road, Ogun State, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The accused denied the charges.

    The prosecutor, Victor Eruada , told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offences on August 9 at Olusesi bus stop, Iju Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

    He alleged that the accused stole the motorcycle, property of the complainant, Mr. Jagun Fatai, from where it was parked at night.

    “The accused was caught by a security guard.”

    The offences contravene sections 287 and 411 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. G. O. Anifowoshe, granted the accused bail at N200,000 with two sureties. and adjourned till September 19 for trial.