Police arraign man, 30, over alleged office break-in, theft

By Funmilayo Okunade

The Nigerian police force in Ekiti has arraigned a 30-year-old security guard, Olofinlade Sunday, for theft. The suspect, on Thursday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into an office and stealing goods worth N7.6 million.

The defendant, of Agric Olope Area in Ado-Ekiti, is facing a two-count charge of office breaking and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the offences on Aug. 15 at about 1.30 a.m. at the DHL building, Agric Olope Junction, Ado-Ekiti.

According to him, the defendant, who worked as a security guard with DHL, broke into the Access Pension Administration and Pal Pension offices in the building and stole items valued at N7.6 million.

Oriyomi said the stolen items included two new Tecno Spark 40 phones, a Vivo handset, a Nokia handset, seven HP laptops, two Lenovo laptops, an HP LaserJet M15W printer and an Itel handset.

Other items listed were two 32-inch plasma televisions, three HP LaserJet chargers, an HP laptop bag, a 6kg gas cylinder with burner, hardware, SIM cards, phone chargers, a flash drive and cash of N140,800, all valued at N7.6 million and belonging to DHL.

He said the offences contravened Sections 322(c) and 302(9) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor then asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Gboyega Abiola, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case until Sept. 25 for hearing. (NAN)