NAN – Three traders on Thursday, April 9, 2015 appeared before an Ikeja Magistrate Court in Lagos, charged with theft of 35 bags of rice valued at N280, 000.
The accused – Ifeanyi Harrison, 45; Ikechukwu Okafor,43, and Emeka Elias-Okolie, 43, – all residents of No. 16, Oyekan St., Fadeyi, Lagos State, are facing a two count-charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, ASP Eranus Nnamonu, told the court that the accused, on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, burgled a shop belonging to one Mrs Bukki Hoseni at Ajegunle Bus-Stop along Ketu-Ikorodu Road, Lagos State.
“The accused, on Nov. 8, 2011, around midnight, burgled a rice shop belonging to Mrs Hoseni and carted away 35 bags of rice valued at N8,000 each, all amounting to N280,000,“ Nnamonu said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 305 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 305(c) stipulates that if the offence is committed in the night, the offender is liable to imprisonment for life.
All the defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each and two sureties in like sum.
Komolafe said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should produce evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government.
She adjourned the case to Thursday, May 21, 2015 for trial.
