15th January, 2018
Paul Iyoghojie
A 34 years old man, Godwin Idumu has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a holy bible valued at N1,000 and other items valued at N430,000 at Ebeano supermarket,Chevron, Lekki, Lagos.
Other items allegedly stolen included Vouchers valued at N250,000, Kenneth Heggis Book valued N5,000, NEPA cards worth N100,000 and open heaven scratch card valued at N50,000.
The accused was arrested on the order of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ilasan Division, Lekki, SP Onyinye Onwuamegbu following a complaint by the management of Ebeano supermarket.
Idumu, a resident of Akerele, Surulere, Lagos was charged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a one count charge of stealing.
Police Prosecutor, Chinedu Njoku informed the court in charge No B/4/2018 that the accused committed the offence between June 2016 and 12 January, 2018 at Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki, Lagos.
Njoku told the court that the accused started stealing at Ebeano Supermarket from 2016 till 2018 unknown to the management.
He said that the accused would enter inside the supermarket to buy items and in the process steal more items.
Njoku said that when the management of the supermarket noticed in December, 2017 that they were making loses in sales, they played out their CCTV cameras where they saw that the accused had been stealing their items and directed all the security men to be on the alert for him.
Njoku said that nemesis, however, caught up with the accused on 12 January, 2018 when he entered the supermarket again to steal a holy bible and was caught by the security men on duty as he made to leave the premises.
He stated that during investigation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime and said that he sold all the items he stole from the supermarket to a buyer at Ikeja bus stop.
He added that the accused led the police to the place, but that he could not identify the alleged buyer.
Njoku said that the offense the accused committed was punishable under sections 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State,2015.
The accused pleaded not gulty to the alleged crime and Chief Magistrate,Folashade Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surty in like sum.
Botoku adjourned the case till 6 February,2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at Ikoyi Prison,Lagos till he fulfill the bail conditiions.