15th January, 2014
A man has found himself in a pot of soup after stealing a basket of tomatoes.
The 29 year old man, identified as Babatunde Oloye, was accused of stealing the tomato basket, valued at N7,000, about $45, 11 January.
Now the police in Badagry, Lagos State have charged him with theft.
Oloye, a resident of Adeogun Street, Ajara near Badagry, is facing the charge of theft at a Badagry Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecutor, Inspector Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence with two others still at large .
He said the accused committed the offence on the pretext of assisting the complainant, Mrs Patricia Okafor, to carry the tomatoes to Badagry Roundabout.
Uko said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment for offenders.
Oloye pleaded not guilty..
Mr. Christoper Okpabio, counsel to the accused, pleaded with the court to grant him bail, promising that he will not jump bail.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, Abiodun Etti, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 and a surety in the like sum.
He said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Further hearing has been fixed for 12 February.