4 docked over alleged theft of customer’s N260,000

Theft

By Deborah Akpede

Ikeja, Sept.19, 2019 (NAN) Four persons were arraigned on Thursday at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N260,000 belonging to a customer.

The defendants are being tried on a two- count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, gave the names of the defendants as: Virginia Ememuo, 25; Deborah Ochega,32; Ezra Emmanuel, 34;and Famous George, 27, all staff of a supermarket.

Odugbo said that the defendants committed the offences on Sept. 12 in a supermarket located on Allen Avenue in Ikeja.

He said that the defendants conspired to steal N260,000 belonging to Mrs Faozyata Bakare.

“The complainant entered the supermarket, and dropped her bag.

“After she had finished shopping, she discovered that the purse inside her bag which contained 7,000 dollars (N252,000) and N8,000 cash, all totalling N260,000 had been stolen.

“Efforts by her to recover her purse and the money inside it proved unsuccessful.

“The complainant reported the case to the nearest police station and the defendants were arrested.”

The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years’ jail term for stealing, while Section 411 attracts two years for conspiracy.

Following their pleas of not guilty, the magistrate, Mrs S.K. Matepo, released the defendants on bail of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

Matepo said that all the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).

The magistrate adjourned the case until Oct. 16 for further hearing. (NAN)

DOA/KOLE/PAD
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Peter Dada