A 27-year-old man, Thankgod Okegwe, on Wednesday, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a shop to steal 62 bags of flour valued N792,000.
Okegwe, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and burglary.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Simeon Imhonwa, told the court that the accused, who pleaded not guilty, committed the offences on Aug. 2 at Ikotun area of Lagos.
Imhonwa said the accused in company with others now still at large, broke into the shop of the complainant, Bernard Onyiwe, and stole 62 bags of golden penny flour worth N792,000.
He said that the accused and his accomplices used a sharp object to break into the complainant’s shop.
“The accused was caught by security guards, who saw him and his cohorts coming out of the complainant’s shop at night.
“He was handed over to the police while others escaped,” the prosecutor said.
The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 287, 309 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing while Section 309 stipulates seven years for burglary.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case to October 2 for trial. (NAN)