Court remands two for allegedly stealing rentals materials
By Damilola Kushimo
A magistrate court sitting in the heart of Isolo, Lagos State has remanded two suspects for allegedly stealing seven dozens of plastic chairs and other rental items worth N239,000 belonging to one Mrs. Christiana Ikelu.
The suspects – Tunde Taiwo, 41 and his accomplice Shefiu Mohammed, 30 were arraigned on two-count charge bordering on felony to wit stealing and theft, offences punishable under sections 411 and 287 of criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.
Leading the prosecution, Inspector Oje Uagbale explained that Taiwo had on Sunday, February 24, 2019 contacted the complainant; a widow who make ends meet from her rental business, under the pretence of being a husband to one of her church members, renting seven dozens of plastic chairs valued at N180 each, one gas cylinder valued at N13, 000, two big cooking pots valued at N35,000 each and one burner at N30,000 totaling N239,000.
He further explained that Taiwo took the items to Mile 2 where he sold them for just N30,000 to his unsuspecting accomplice, Shefiu Mohammed.
He said, “The woman, after some days, decided to call Taiwo and asked for her items but his response was that ‘madam, you still dey put eyes for those things, make you forget them,’ this made her took a walk to the address he gave him only to find out that the place was an empty land. She then made a report to the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) who encouraged her to make a formal report at Ago-Okota Divisional police station.
“The search for Taiwo began and through tracking of his mobile phone the SARS were able to get him on Monday, April 8, 2019 and handed him over to the police at Ago-Okota division.
“He confessed to have sold the items to Mohammed for N30,000.”
Taiwo was also indicted with a theft of similar items, two cooking cylinders valued at N25,000 each, one size 35 cooking pot valued at 20,000 each, one 12.5kg cylinder valued at N12,000, two serving trays valued at N12,000 and one regulator valued at N5,000 totaling N110,000, having stolen them from one Joke Fashola at 11, Ayeomere Street, Ikotun on Sunday, March 24, 2019.
Contrary to the confessions, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the count charges and the Magistrate, Olufunmilayo Teluwo granted them bail of N100,000 and one surety in like sum each with a verified Lagos state tax receipt for three years.
They were remanded in prison custody pending the time they would be able to perfect their bail conditions while the magistrate adjourned the case till Monday, May 27, 2019.
