Olusegun Ariyo
Two teenagers and five men have appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of electrical fittings and household items worth over N28 million.
The defendants, Sunday Odeshola, 15, Monday Ubah, 16, and David Odeshola, 45, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy stealing and malicious damage.
Four others, Kaman Rabiru, 27, Lawal Shaibu, 25, Nazid Abdullahi, 27, and Ibrahim Khalid, 25, were arraigned for unlawfully receiving stolen goods.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offences between December 10 and 17, at Ariwo Quarters, Owode Egbe in Abeokuta, at 12:30 pm.
He alleged that Odeshola, Odeh and Odeshola broke into the house of one Mr Akinwale Azeez and stole an Eito inverter machine valued at N2 million, electrical wires, refrigerator compressors, and gas cooker burners all valued at N26 million, totalling to N28 million.
The prosecutor also added that Sunday Odeshola and Odey maliciously damaged one electric engine valued at N500,000, one entrance iron door valued at N150,000, one aluminium window glass valued at N50,000, and five refrigerators valued at N1 million, all valued at N1.7 million.
He said Kabiru, Shaibu, Abdullahi and Khalid unlawfully received the stolen electrical wires, refrigerator compressors, and gas cooker burners.
According to him, the offences committed contravened sections 516, 390 (9) and 427 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against each of them.
Ruling on the defendants’ bail applications, the Chief Magistrate, Dr B.O. Ilo, admitted them to bail in the sum of N2 million each with one surety each.
Ilo said that the sureties must be bondsmen registered with the Ogun State Judiciary.
He thereafter adjourned the case until January 10, 2025, for a hearing.
