Police Arraign Two Persons Over Stealing

[Defender]

Osun State Police Command, last Tuesday, arraigned two suspects, Fredrick Ikechi, 27 and Sunday Udoh, 22, before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for alleged stealing.

The charge sheet revealed that the accused persons, while operating a CG motorcycle, snatched a polythene bag containing the sum of N405,000 belonging to one Mr. Oladele Taiwo.

The offence was allegedly committed on October 4, 2011, at about 10am at Ajegunle Area of Osogbo, the state capital.

According to the charge sheet made available to OSUN DEFENDER, the accused persons were also alleged of removing from a car, a bag containing the sum of N200,000, a Nokia mobile phone valued at N17,000 and a mini laptop (notebook) on October 11, 2011.

The offences, the charge sheet revealed, were contrary and punishable under sections 383 and 390(9) of the state criminal law.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.

Defence Counsel, Mrs. Nnena Ngwu applied for bail of the accused persons in the most liberal terms, stating that the offences were bailable.

She added that the offences were mere allegations and the suspects were ready to face trial and prove their innocence before the court.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun opposed the bail application made by the defence counsel, stating that the accused person may jump bail, on the ground that the first accused person had been arraigned for a similar crime before and later jumped bail.

He added that the first accused person, Fredrick Ikechi had committed similar offence in Ilesa town in 2010 with Oyebuchi Njoku.

"The suspect, in company of another person, was arraigned before at an Ilesa Magistrate Court and was granted bail, after which, he disappeared and jeopardized the case," added the prosecutor.

Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Olusola Aluko, however, dismissed the prosecutor's objection, saying that they were based on speculations and that the suspects could not be denied bail on mere speculations.

He then admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

Olusola then adjourned the case till December 8, 2011 for hearing.

Osun Defender