Four Ekiti men arraigned for N1.98m property theft

The Ekiti State Police Command has arraigned four persons before an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, for alleged theft of belongings worth N1.98m.

The defendants, Umar Lawal, 18; Useni Usman, 25; Abbar Senkikami, 25 and Nuru Useni, 25; were also charged with damage of some property worth N1.5m.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Tuesday that “the suspects on September 5 and 7 at about 02:30 am at No. 3, Irona Street, in Ado Ekiti, did conspire with one another and break into the residence of one Pastor Obebe Michael.

“On the same date, time and place, the defendants did steal one electrical wire and distribution board worth N500,000, a mattress worth N80,000, a gas cooker with cylinder valued at N450,000, a Hiace fridge valued at N900,000 and iron bar valued N50,000, totalling N1,980,000, properties of one Pastor Obebe Michael.”

The prosecutor added that the defendants maliciously damaged the roof ceiling, glass, net, and distribution box with a house wire ring valued at N1.5m, which is Michael’s property.

He said, “The offence committed by the defendants is punishable under Sections 421, 322, 302, 354 and 345 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges made against them.

Counsel for the defendants, Opeyemi Esan, urged the court to grant his clients bail, promising they would not jump bail and provide credible surety.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adebayo Adeosun, granted the defendants bail of N200,000 with one surety each and adjourned the case till October 15 for hearing.