23rd June, 2015
A 35-year-old man, Joshua Effiong, on Monday appeared in a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 25 cartons of Moet wine valued at N2.9million.
NAN reports that the accused was alleged to have stolen the wine from one Adu Elizabeth, a trader, who resides at Close 4, Victoria Garden City, Lagos.
Effiong is standing trial with a 40-year-old trader, Mojisola Bamgbade of 28, Shipeolu St., Palm Groove, who allegedly received the items from the first accused, having known they were stolen.
Between the two of them, they are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, obtaining goods under false pretence ,stealing and receiving stolen goods.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But the prosecutor, Insp. Ignatius Okeke, told the court that Effiong, with others at large, committed the offence on April 28 , at about 9:00a.m..
He said that the complainant, Adu, had come to the police station to report on the said date that she had supplied 25 cartons wine valued at N2,925,000 to Effiong on credit.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant said that the accused absconded immediately the items were supplied.
He said that Effiong was later arrested and the stolen items were traced to Bamgbade.
Okeke said the offences contravened sections 312,326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi ordered Effiong to be remanded in Prison, saying he had jumped bail in a different case before the court and so he could not grant him same again.
He, however, granted the co-accused bail in the sum of N400,000 and two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate adjourned the case till June 30.