Cleaner Arraigned Over Theft Of N1.1m Property

magistrate-court

Magistrate-court

magistrate-court
magistrate-court

A cleaner, Festus Ihuoma, who allegedly stole items valued at N1.16million from one Fidelis Oziegbe, was on Friday arraigned in an Ikeja Senior Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Ihuoma,18, a resident of No.15 Balogun St., Oshodi, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of breach of peace and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 24 at Royal Class Hotel, No.18, Akinpelu St., Oshodi, Lagos.

He said that the accused entered the complainant’s hotel room while he was away and stole four phones, four tablets and 10 different wrist watches, all valued at N1.16million.

Akeem said that the accused had just come back from London and had decided to lodge at the hotel.

The prosecutor said that the complainant left his belongings in the hotel room, dropped the key at the reception and quickly travelled to Abeokuta.

He said that the receptionist gave the cleaner a key to Oziegbe’s room to tidy it up, not knowing that he was going to steal the customer’s items.

Akeem said that the accused opened the complainant’s travelling bag and stole the valuables, worth N1.16 million.
“The complainant said that when he came back, he discovered that some of his belongings were missing, so he reported the case to the owner of the hotel.

“The complainant said that the owner of the hotel called the accused and threatened to hand him over to the police if he did not return all the valuables he stole.

“ Ihuoma confessed to stealing just one of the phones and denied stealing the other items.

“The case was reported to the police and the accused was arrested for further questioning,’’ the prosecutor said.

Akeem said that the offences contravened the provision of Sections 57 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Senior Magistrate T.O. Shomade granted the accused bail in the sum of N1.2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Shomade said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and also present evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

He adjourned further hearing in the case till Oct. 28.

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