3 Guards Jailed For Stealing Jeep

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced three security guards each to three years in prison for stealing one Toyota jeep.

Chief Magistrate Oyindamola Ogala sentenced Abudulahi Abubakar (29); Idris Osimen (26); and Muritala Bello (35), who were arraigned on a count charge of stealing the jeep on January 18, 2010.

Ogala said that the sentences were “with no option of fine.”

The court said: “The prosecutor had given facts on the case and the court is convinced that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“I hereby sentence the defendants to three years in prison each. The sentences are to start counting from August 20, 2010.”

The prosecutor, SP Eshiet Eshiet, had submitted that the defendants conspired to steal their boss’ Toyota jeep.

He told the court that the jeep, worth N3.5million, was stolen on January 18, 2010, at the residence of their boss situated at 3, Victor Njomanze St., Ajah area of Lagos.

He said that the defendants were arrested when they attempted to sell the vehicle.

The prosecutor noted that the offence contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants had pleaded not guilty on arraignment and were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

They, however, could not meet the bail conditions and were thus remanded in prison custody.