26th October, 2016
A 23-year-old man, who allegedly broke into a hotel room and stole items valued at N105,000, is on reprieve as he was granted a N100, 000 bail, a court ruled in Lagos on Wednesday.
Suleiman Yahaya, a resident of Ijora Badia area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.
But Prosecutor Kokoye Olusegun insisted that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 27 at Islander Hotel, located at Ijora-Badia in Iganmu area of Lagos.
He said the accused and others still on the run entered the hotel pretending to be guests.
Olusegun said immediately they entered the hotel, they used an object to cut the barrier to gain entry into one of the rooms, where they stole cash and five phones all valued at N105,000 belonging to a man, John Opiri.
“The complainant, Opiri, said Sulaiman’s accomplices left with the valuables while the accused was caught ransacking the room for more items to steal.
“When Opiri asked the accused what he was doing in his room, Sulaiman could not give a satisfactory answer.
“The complainant said that he quickly went to check the drawer to see if the phones and cash he kept there were still intact, only to discover that they were missing.
“The accused was immediately arrested and taken to the police station while others disappeared.”
The offences contravened Sections 285, 305 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 409 stipulates two years for offenders.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Etti said the sureties must be gainfully employed and also present evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Further hearing in the case has been fixed for Nov.4.