8th November, 2012
The police exhibit keeper attached to the zonal criminal investigation department at Zone 2, Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos Island, southwest Nigeria, Inspector Samuel Chukwu, 56, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of forgery and stealing the sum of N4.6 million being the monetary exhibits in his custody.
The police prosecution alleged in charge No. B/42/2012 that the accused was arrested by the Zone 2 Police Command after they audited and took stock of all the items in their exhibit room in accordance with the standard rules and regulations and discovered that the money he kept as exhibit was missing.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly could not give satisfactory account of the missing money in his custody as the officer in charge of exhibits.
The police further stated in the charge sheet that the accused forged the signatures of officers of the zonal criminal investigation department of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos to steal the money.
The prosecutor, Inspector Marcus Okon stated that the offence is contrary to sections 73 and 353 and punishable under section 73 (1), 363 (3) (h) and 285 (6) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011.
One of the count reads: “that you, Samuel Chukwu on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of N4.6 million at the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos knowing same to be monetary exhibits under your custody.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Abegunde Davies admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum who must show proof of tax payment to Lagos State government.
She adjourned the matter for mentioning.
The defendant was ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending when he meets the bail conditions.
—Paul Iyoghojie