11th May, 2017
For allegedly stealing five wheelbarrows valued at N135,000, a 27-year-old man, Mohammed Baita, was on Thursday charged before an Apapa Magistrate’s’ Court in Lagos.
Baita, a resident of Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing brought against him.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 7, at Achapa Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.
He said that the accused and others now at large stole the five wheelbarrows worth N135,000 from one Mohammed Abubakar.
Kokoye said that the complainant, who rents out his wheelbarrows for construction work, displayed them in front of his shop when the accused and his accomplices carried out the act.
The prosecutor said that Baita went to the complainant pretending he was there to rent some of his wheelbarrows while his accomplices stylishly rolled them away.
Kokoye said by the time Abubakar discovered what they were doing, they had already bolted with five of them.
He said that the complainant, however, apprehended Baita as he tried to escape.
The prosecutor said that the complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.
He noted that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mr M.A Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
He adjourned the case until May 23 for mention.