31st March, 2024
By Paul Iyoghojie
The police at the Ebute-Ero Division, Lagos Island of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspected thief, Sodiq Saliu, 26, and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing a handbag containing phone and N6,200 belonging to a LAWMA street sweeper, Funmilayo Ariyo at Ebute-Ero under bridge, Lagos Island.
Saliu was alleged to have escaped to a hideout to remove the contents from the bag and threw the empty bag into the Lagos Lagoon unknown to him that a police patrol team had sighted him as he threw the bag into the Lagoon.
On sighting the police, the defendant took to his heels and police chased and caught him with the stolen items.
When he was asked what he threw into the Lagoon, the defendant allegedly confessed that it was the handbag he stole at Ebute Ero under bridge that he threw into the Lagoon after removing the contents.
The defendant led the police to the scene where he allegedly stole the handbag and the owner was identified.
After the investigation, the divisional police officer, DPO in charge of Ebute-Ero division, CSP Rotimi Agunloye directed his men to charge the suspect to court to serve as a deterrent to others.
The defendant was charged before the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island on one count charge of stealing.
Police prosecuting counsel, Inspector Koti Aodohemba told the court that the defendant committed the offence on 14 March 2024 at Ebute-Ero under bridge, Lagos Island at about 7 am while the owner of the bag was busy sweeping the highway.
Aodohemba informed the court that the defendant stole a handbag containing a phone valued at N33,000 and N6,200 cash belonging to the LAWMA sweeper, removed the contents and threw the empty bag into the Lagos Lagoon.
He said the offence committed was punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Omoyele granted him N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Omoyele adjourned the case till 28 March 2024 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till he perfected the bail condition.