30th November, 2010
A 32-year old GSM repair, Mr. Adesanya Adekunle of 45, Ajesefini Street, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria, has been arraigned before a Somolu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for stealing.
Adesanya was accused of stealing a BlackBerry phone belonging to a pharmacist, Mr. Olewuezi Aloy, at Myong Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
The one-count charge against the accused read “that you, Adesanya Adekunle, some time in August, 2009, at Military Hospital, Yaba, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal one BlackBerry phone valued N150,000, property of one Olewuezi Aloy of Josfred Pharmacy at Myong Barracks and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C 17 vol.2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.â€
He had earlier pleaded guilty when he was arraigned on Friday last week, but when the case came up on Monday for fact and sentence, his counsel, Barrsiter Kolawole Nosiru, told the court that his client wanted to change his earlier plea, following an agreement reached with the owner of the phone to settle out of court.
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum by Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, the magistrate, who adjourned till 3 December, 2010 for the outcome of the settlement.
He was, however, remanded at Ikoyi Prison as he could not perfect the bail condition before the court closed for the day.
—Paul Sanusi
