4 unemployed men nabbed for stealing

Magistrate-court

Four unemployed men, who allegedly stole items worth N196,500 from a passer-by, were on Tuesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The accused – Mufato Nola, 28, Isaac Umukoro, 18, Lucky Abuah, 25; and Olayinka Ayinde, 21, are standing trial on a three-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and breach of peace.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Okete Ejime, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Nov. 28, at about 1:00 a.m., at Law School Junction on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ejime said that the accused waylaid the complainant, Mr Tony Ebi and stole one I-phone worth N190,000 and two Catholic Rosaries worth N6,500 from him.

He said that the accused also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, “by hiding under the bridge, in a criminal hideout with the intention to commit crimes’’.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 166 (b), 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Three of the accused, Nola, Umukoro, and Abuah, pleaded not guilty to all the counts, while the fourth accused, Ayinde, pleaded guilty to all the counts.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Olutilogu, granted the three accused N100,000 bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must produce evidence of tax payments and to also produce means of identity, which could be voters’ card, international passport or a valid vehicle licence.

She said that the addresses of the sureties must be verified and filed in the court.

The magistrate, however, remanded the fourth accused, Ayinde, in prison custody.

She adjourned the case till Dec. 14 for mention and for review of facts and sentencing.