A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos docked five men for allegedly stealing of appliances worth N6.39 million from the Nite Shift Coliseum in Opebi – Ikeja.
The suspects who broke into the shop are currently facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, break-in, stealing and receiving stolen property.
As revealed, they are namely; Richard Otache, 30; Saraju Jubrin, 55; Abdullahi Abdul-liadi, 22; Opeyemi Ileyemi, 35 and Stephen Okeke, 30 and however pleaded not guilty of offences alleged.
The Prosecution counsel, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye told the court that the defendants committed the offences at 1am on June 25 at the Nite Shift Coliseum.
Olaluwoye said that Otache and Jubrin broke into the coliseum and stole appliances worth N6.39 million, while Abdul-Liadi, Ileyemi and Okeke sold the stolen goods at their electronics stores.
“My Lord, the CCTV camera installed within the coliseum captured the thieves during their operation.
“When the first and the second defendants were arrested, they confessed to the crime and listed out the names of their accomplices.
“Through that information, we were able to arrest the third, the fourth and the fifth defendants and recovered a few of the stolen items from them,” she said.
“The items stolen are: a unit of one 60-inch flat screen television, six air conditioners, one set of a 42-inch LG television, one unit of a 52-inch LG television, three projectors and one unit of a 14-inch 6×6 Vitafoam mattress, all amounting to N6.39 million.
“The offences contravened Sections 411, 287, 309 (1) (2) and 328 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
According to NAN reports, section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing, Sections 309 and 328 also provide for seven years and 14 years imprisonment for the offences of break-in and receiving stolen property respectively.
Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere granted each of the defendants N500,000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.
Oghere said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case until September 25 for mention.
