Couple in court for alleged N2.2m theft

A couple, Cordelia Dike and Frank Dike, who allegedly broke into a residential house and stole jewellery and cash worth N2.2 million, were on Tuesday arraigned before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The defendants, Frank, 63 and Cordelia, 50, whose address was not provided, are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on burglary and theft.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the husband and wife committed the offences on Feb. 1, at Abesan Housing Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.

Aigbokhan also told the court that the duo broke into the house of one Mrs Doyin Ogunbiade and stole a container containing jewellery worth N215,000.

He said that the defendants also broke into the house of another person, one Mrs Adewunmi Dada, stole a cash sum of N1.5 million and jewellery worth N500,000.

According to the prosecutor, all the items stolen were valued at N2.2 million.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 287, 307 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

Ariyo adjourned the case until March 3 for mention.