5th November, 2012
The police on Monday docked a 30-year old businessman, Isiaka Ayinla, before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly receiving beef worth N486,000 under false pretence.
The accused, who resides in Boundary Area of Ajegunle, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and receiving cow meat under false pretence.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, told the court that the defendant, on 28 August, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. received the beef (cow meat) worth N486,000 from Wahab Usman, promising to pay the said amount on a later day.
Inedu said Ayinla approached Usman, a butcher and asked him to supply him meat worth N486,000 with a promise of paying him back after he must have sold it to his customers.
Inedu said that the defendant absconded immediately he collected the meat at Jubilee Market, Alaba Suru, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, and was later apprehended by the police.
“Ayinla could not pay the money when asked to do so or give account of the cow meat he collected from Usman,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2011.
He pleaded not guilty.
Chief Magistrate Amos Adeyemi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned further hearing till 22 November.
In another report, the police on Monday arraigned a 24-year old driver, Abubakar Umar, before a Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for allegedly stealing four goats.
Prosecutor Francis Udofia told the court that the accused stole the goats belonging to Isaac Abraham of Deidei, Abuja, on 26 October, 2012.
“The accused stole the goats in Deidei and was caught in Mararaba market where he was selling them. One of the goats was recovered from the accused person during police investigation,’’ he said.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Umar, however, admitted stealing only one and not four goats as contained in the First Information Report.
“I have never stolen before. I needed some money during the festive season that was what led me to steal.
“I urge the court to please pardon me. I promise never to engage in such devilish act again,’’ he said.
The Senior Magistrate, Chinyere Nwecheonwu, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50, 000 and a surety in like sum.
Nwecheonwu said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case till 21 November for further hearing.