The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tinubu Magistrate’s Court

  • Three men charged with defrauding undergraduate

    Billy Irene, Olayinka Awoyemi and Ishola Adelubi, who allegedly obtained N32,000 and an Infinix phone from a female undergraduate under false pretences, were on Monday arraigned before a Lagos magistrate.

    The trio of Irene, 56; Awoyemi, 42; and Adelubi,  40, appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy, and obtaining money under false pretences.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Insp.  Philip Osijiale insisted that the accused and others at large had in 2014 at Ajah on Lekki-Epe Expressway committed the offences.

    He said the accused, who claimed they were money doublers, obtained N32,000 and one Infinix phone from a  university student, Miss Folake Fasanmi.

    According to Osijiale, the accused persons fraudulently collected Fasanmi’s money and phone on the pretext of buying chemical for the money doubling.

    “Fasanmi did not see them again and the telephone number they gave her was inactive.

    “She boarded a bus on March 21 and met the trio using the same strategy they used in defrauding her three years ago for other passengers on the bus.

    “She recognised them and raised alarm which led to their arrest,” he told the court.

    The offences contravened Sections 312 (1), (a), (2), 314 (b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (as amended).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 stipulates a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretenses, while Section 409 provides two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, Magistrate Omolaja Kazeem granted them N100,000 bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until April 19 for mention.

     

  • N30m cable theft: Scaffolder gets N10m bail

    A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court  in Lagos on Monday slammed a N10 million bail on a 27-year-old scaffolder, Sunday Eze, charged with breaking into estate and stealing armored cables worth N30 million.

    Eze is facing charges of breaking, entry and theft.

    He, however, denied the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mr Omolaja Kareem, who gave the ruling, said the accused should provide two responsible sureties.

    Kareem said the two sureties must be a civil servant and a relation, who must deposit N2 million each in the court’s Chief Registrar’s account.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp.  Philip Osijiale, told the court that the accused had on March 11 at about 5.00 a.m. broken into Cooplag Garden Estate, Lagos, and stolen rolls of cables valued at N30 million, property of the estate.

    “The vehicle which the accused used in conveying the cables was stopped at Eleganza Bus Stop by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol team following a tip-off.

    “The policemen caught Eze and recovered the armored cables,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 285 (5), (f) and 306 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (as amended).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 306 provides seven years imprisonment for entering residence with intent to steal.

    The case has been adjourned until April 24 for trial.

  • Security guard faces break-in, theft charge

    A 25-year-old security guard, Sikiru Ganiyu, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole phones worth N5 million, was on Thursday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused is being tried by Magistrate Omolaja Kazeem for conspiracy, burglary and theft.

    However, Ganiyu, pleaded not guilty and was released on a N500, 000 bail.

    The magistrate also granted the accused two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 12.

    Earlier the prosecutor, Insp. Philip Osijiale told the court that the accused with others still at large had on March 8 stolen phones, accessories and three plasma TV at 3C Hub Telecommunications Ltd in Ajah, Lagos, the shop he was employed to guard.

    He put the value of the stolen items at N5 million.

    Osijiale said the accused and his accomplices broke the door of the shop with a sledge hammer to steal the items.

    The offences contravened Sections 285, 307 (1) (2) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 285 stipulates 3 years imprisonment for offenders, while Sections 307 and 409 provide seven years and two years respectively.

    The case was adjourned to March 29 for hearing.

     

  • Man gets N500, 000 bail for alleged theft of jewelry

    A 23-year-old, Paul Thomas, who allegedly had in his possession stolen gold watch and rings valued at N2.1 million, was on Thursday charged before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused, who is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of stolen items, however, denied the charges.

    The accused, according to Police Prosecutor Richard Odigie, committed the offences with another man still at large sometime in February at Alpha Beach, Lekki, Lagos.

    “One Michael Kors watch and four rings valued at N2.1 millon were found on the accused during a `stop-and-search’ by the police.”

    He said the items were stolen by the accused’s accomplice (at large), a security guard, from his employer, who was out of the country.

    ASP Odigie alleged that the accused received the stolen jewellery knowing full well that they were stolen and ownership was traced to the complainant, the employer.

    The offences contravened Sections 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 326 stipulates 14 years imprisonment, while Section 409 provides a two-year jail term for offenders.

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

    She said one of the sureties must be a relation of the accused, while the other surety must be a community leader.

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for April 12.

     

  • 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.

     

  • Two tanker drivers arraigned for alleged theft of petrol product

    Two tanker drivers who allegedly stole 33,000 litres of petrol valued N3.8million was on Thursday arraigned in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island.

    The two accused, Sakiru Oketoye, (45) and Bukola Adegbola (30) are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and theft.

    The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odigbo told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on Nov. 23, 2015 at about 12:00p.m at Stallonia Depot, Kirikiri Apapa, Lagos.

    He said that the duo forged the registration number of a tanker truck that was supposed to load petrol on another truck and loaded the said truck with intent to defraud.

    Odigbo said that after the tanker had been loaded, the two accused drove the truck away and later claimed that the truck was hijacked from them by unknown persons.

    “The tanker with registration number EKY 876 XR was supposed to load petrol at the depot but the two accused forged and placed the said registration number on their tanker.

    “They later claimed that the tanker was hijacked from them with the 33,000 litres of petrol inside it, valued at N3.8million which belonged to one Solomon Oguntoye ,” he said.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 361 (a, b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defence counsel, Mr Ibrahim Isah, applied for the bail of the two accused in liberal terms, saying that “they are presumed innocent until proven guilty’’.

    The Magistrate, Mr Omolaja Kazeem granted the accused N2million bail each with two sureties in like sum.

    He said one of the sureties must hold a managerial position in a reputable company and the other must be a land owner in the state.

    Kazeem, adjourned the case to March 1 for trial.

     

  • Magistrates’ absence stalls forgery charge against Ogah

    A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, Thursday adjourned till October 10, for hearing of an allegation of fraud against the President of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, following the absence of Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye.

    Ogah was arraigned by the police on June 16, alongside an ex-employee of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Deji Somoye.

    The oil firm and UBA were also joined with the defendants on three counts bordering on forgery and conspiracy.

    No reason was given for the absence of the Mrs Ayeye but the court registrars adjourned the matter till October 10 for trial.

    The police said Ogah allegedly forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited sometime in March 2011.

    Ogah and some other persons still at large were alleged to have forged the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun.

    The alleged forgery was reportedly committed in Ikeja, Lagos.

    During their arraignment, the police also alleged that the bank aided Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited to open an account in the name of Mut-Hass Petroleum to perpetrate a fraud without applying its internal control procedures in the opening of the account.

    It claimed that UBA allowed the said account to be opened sometime in 2011 at its regional office in Palmgrove, Lagos, in breach of the provisions of the Bank and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) Act 2004.

    Police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Henry Obiazi told the court that the offences contravened Sections 363 (3) (u), 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The charges reads in part, “That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large sometime in March 2011 at Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to wit: forgery.

    “That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did forge the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun and a document known as MoU between Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, with an intent that it may be in any way used or acted upon as genuine.

    “That you, Deji Somoye, United Bank for Africa and others still at large, sometime in August 2011, at UBA regional office, Palmgrove, in the Lagos Magisterial District, knowing that Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited designed to commit an offence, failed to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or the completion of the crime.”

    The defendants denied the charge and were admitted to bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with one surety each in the like sum

  • Housemaid charged with stealing N5.5m gold

    Housemaid charged with stealing N5.5m gold

    A  housemaid,  Mercy Odita (18), has been arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing gold jewellery N5.5 million.  .

    Odita, of House 4, Road 8, Abraham Adesanya Estate in Ajah, Lgos was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft under Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    The prosecutor, Francesca Okere, told the court that the defendant conspired with others at large to steal the jewellery of her employer, Ngozi Okeke.

    Okere said the crime was committed on February 10, at 9am.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty and was granted N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    Magistrate A. T. Omoyele adjourned the matter to March 23.