By Sade Adewale,Ondo

A 45-year-old man, Jerry Oyebade, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town, for stealing 5,000 litres of petrol tank valued at N36 million, property of a filling station in Ondo.

The police brought Oyebade before the court for unlawfully and fraudulently obtain the sum of N70,000, from one Ishola Aderemi, under false pretence to sell 5,000 litres of petrol tank, which he knew fully is not his own.

However, the defendant is now facing a two-count charge concerning stealing and fraud.

The defendant was said to have committed on June 6, 2023, at about 4 pm at NIPCO Filling Station, Awoyaya Ore Road, Ondo.

According to the Prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, told the court that three witnesses would testify in the case.

He applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Lawyer for the defendant, Mr. Bode Akinkoye, applied for the bail of his client in the most liberal terms.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Omofolarin, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two credible sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction, while they must have landed properties with C of O, Nepa bills, valid I.D card, and two passports each, to be verified by the court orderly and the clerk.

Omofolarin adjourned the case till April 30, 2024, for trial.