Five persons, Ismaila Lateef (20), Akerele Oluwaseun
(32), Yinka Babatunde (19), Afeez Raji (21) and Usman Muhammed (28),
were on Thursday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for
allegedly stealing.
The police said Lateef, Oluwaseun, Babatunde and Raji
conspired together and broke into the apartment of Taiwo Oludipe
through a window and stole the key of his ‘C’ Class Mercedez Benz car.
It was alleged that the four accused persons also stole four mobile phones valued at N66, 000 and N10, 000.
The offence was said to have been committed around
2am on October 14 at Oludipe’s residence on Willoughby Street, Ebute
Meta, Lagos.
However, the police said Mohammed was found in the
possession of the stolen phones at Kanuri Motor Park, Otto, Lagos and
was charged with the receipt of stolen items.
The charge sheet stated, “That you Lateef, Oluwaseun,
Babatunde and Raji within the Lagos magisterial district did conspire
together to commit felony to wit burglary.
“That you Mohammed on October 14 at about 4pm did
receive four stolen mobile phones valued at N66,000, property of Taiwo
Oludipe.”
Police prosecutor, Adone Alfred, said the offences
were punishable under sections 409, 305 and 326 of the Criminal Laws of
Lagos State 2011.
When their plea was taken, the five accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Their lawyer, Mr. F.S. Oladele, said the law presumed
them innocent until the otherwise was proven and urged the court to
grant them bail on liberal terms.
Magistrate Tubosun Abolarinwa admitted them to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.
He said one of the sureties must be a relation of the accused while the other must be a community leader.
He added that the sureties must also present to the court evidence of tax payment to the state government.
The case has been adjourned till November 19, for further hearing.
