Teenagers arraigned over stealing N520,000

By Sade Adewale, Ondo

Two teenagers, Ayeni Michael, 17, Jamiu Abiodun, 17, and a 21-year-old man, Ayoola Akintola have been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for stealing 250 creates of Coca-Cola bottle drinks worth N520,000.

The police brought the defendants before the court on Thursday for conspiring together to steal the items said to be the property of one Justina Ikundasi.

The trio, are now facing two- count charge bothering on conspiracy and stealing, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

The defendants were said to have committed the offence on March10, 2019, at about 5:00am, at No 7, Yaba street, opposite First bank plc, Ondo, contrary to and punishable under section 516 and 390(9)of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The charge sheet read in part, “That you, Ayeni Michael, Abiodun Jamiu and Ayoola Akinola, on March 10, 2019, at about 5:00am, at No7, Yaba street, opposite First Bank plc, Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Volumes 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Ayeni Michael, Abiodun Jamiu and Ayoola Akinola, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District stole 250 creates of Coca-Cola bottle drinks valued at N520,000:00 property of one Justina  Ikundasi and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 390(9) of the Criminal code, cap 37, Volume 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Charles Olagbayi, who told the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Lawyer for the accused person, Barrister Abayomi Oladire, applied for the bail of the defendants in most liberal terms.

But the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Odenusi Fadeyi, who refused to grant the accused persons bail, ordered their remand in prison custody.

She, therefore, adjourned the case till March 25 , 2019 for consideration of bail and trial.