By Bamidele Kolawole
|
The Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has ordered the remand of a 30-year-old man, Seun Yahaya and 29 years old, Friday Arogbo, for allegedly stealing church property worth N110,000.
The police dragged Yahaya, a bricklayer and Arogbo, a stainless builder, to the court presided over by Mrs Charity Adeyanju, on two counts charge of criminal conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecution alleged that the duo and one other still at large committed the offence at about 5:00am at Fruit of God Ministry street, Osewa, off Ijoka, Akure.
The accused with their accomplice still at large, were said to have conspired together and broken into the Fruit of God Ministry Church, Akure.
They were said to have stolen the following property of the church; one big Element generator valued N30,000 and Yahaya Mixer engine valued at N75,000, with total value at N105,000.
Prosecution said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 415 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The police prosecutor, Sgt. Adebayo Suleiman, urged the court to adjourned the case to enable him study the case file and assemble his witness in court.
Lawyer for the accused, Barr. Joseph Arinju, who did not oppose the prosecutor application, asked for the bail of his clients in most liberal term.
In her ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Adeyanju, said that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the case.
She, therefore, ordered the remand of the accused in Olokuta prison custody, pending the outcome of the legal advice from the offuce of the Director of Public Prosecution.
She adjourned the case till December 19, 2018.
