19th July, 2011
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned a 45-year old man, Victor Obi before an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, for stealing $33,480 USD, equivalent to N5,200,000
P.M.NEWS gathered that Obi was alleged to have stolen the money, which belongs to Espana Africa Ltd., Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, on 6 March 2011, at about 6 p.m.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing, an offence the prosecuting police officer, Mr. Innocent Effiong, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, claimed was punishable under Section 390(9), of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
Obi pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge and Mrs. Oyindamola A. Ogalla, a Chief Magistrate, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties.
The sureties, the court ordered must deposit the sum of N500,000 each to the account of the Chief Registrar of the magistrate court. She added that the sureties must show evidence of payment of three-year tax to the Lagos State government; evidence of means of livelihood and must reside within the magisterial district.
The case has been adjourned till 29, August 2011, for trial.
—Paul Sanusi