3 men docked for alleged malicious damage, break-in, theft
The Police on Tuesday, arraigned three men in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for maliciously damaging windscreens of people’s cars, breaking into shops and stealing properties worth more than N1million.
The defendants; Akinbola Olabode, 33; Amos Morakinyo, 28 and Odebunmi Qudus, are being tried on a three-count charge of malicious damage, burglary and stealing.
The prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that Olabode, Morakinyo, and Qudus, committed the offences on Feb. 5, at about 11.00 p.m., at Makoko area of Lagos.
Ajayi said that the men conspired to willfully damage the windscreen and side mirrors of a Mazda Wagon, with Reg. no LND 43 GG, valued at N155,000, belonging to Mr Olagbuju Oluwaleke.
She said they also willfully damaged the windscreen of a Peugeot 406, valued at N300,000, property of One Albanian, Kelani Bello.
She said they broke into the shop of one Mrs Oke Olabisi, at No 4, Ori-Iyepe, Acts of Apostle street, Makoko, and stole cartons of beer worth N10,000, and a cash sum of N420,000.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendants also willfully damaged the windscreen and mirrors of a trailer truck, valued at N1million, under Olabisi’s care.
“They continued their mayhem and broke into the shop of one Henry Olanrewaju, at No 8 Ajanlekoko street, Makoko, and stole his Sumer generator set, valued at N150,000, a HP computer llano too, valued at N180,000, and another set of computer system, valued at N220,000.
“They also took an LG plasma television valued at N120,000, which makes the total value of items stolen from Mr Olanrewaju’s shop N670,000,” DSP Ajayi told the court.
Ajayi reminded the court that the offences violated sections 287(5)(f), 309(1)(2) , 350 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The News reports that Section 309 prescribes seven years jail term for break-in and entry, while willful damage according to Section 350, attracts two years jail term.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
Kubeinje adjourned the case until March 22, for proper trial.
