A 44-year-old man, Samuel Omotayo, has been charged before Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Oyingbo, for stealing a three-year-old girl, Victoria Ukoh.
The defendant, who claimed to be a father of two was alleged to have stolen the little girl on June 13, 2014, between 12 noon and 1 pm, at Ogunbela Street, Aiyelala area, Odongunya at Ikorodu, Lagos.
The prosecutor, DSP Etim Ekankum, told the court, that the defendant, has made two conflicting statements to the police.
He said in one of the statements the defendant claimed to have bought the girl for N450,000, and on the second statement, he also claimed to have found the little girl in the rain, and as a good Samaritan, took her home.
However, when the defendant, was asked by Magistrate O. Olatunji, on how he came about the little girl and what informed the contradicting statements he said he was in state of confusion when he wrote the statements.
He said the baby girl was actually found in the rain, and when he asked her of her mission she could not respond, so he decided to take her home.
Ekankum, told the court that the offence committed by the defendant, was punishable under section 275(I) (a) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
His counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi, told the court that the parties have agreed to settle the matter out of court.
He therefore applied for a short adjournment to enable both parties resolve amicably.
Consequently, magistrate, Olatunji, granted the defendant bail, in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum. He adjourned the matter till October 15, for report of settlement.
