Two traders at Alaba International market in Ojo, Lagos, Ekezie Obinna Anthony, 19 and Haruna Umar, 25, have been arrested for allegedly stealing and buying stolen goods worth over N7m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 2nd January, 2026, at Alaba market.
The suspect, Anthony, was alleged to have stolen 22 pieces of supermarket shelves valued N7,195,000.00 belonging to Abutex Investment and sold them to Umar at give away prices.
According to the Police, the items were stolen and when the complainant discovered, he reported to the Police at Ojo Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect, Anthony and detained him for interrogation over the missing items.
While being interrogated, the suspect confessed and mentioned Umar as the person he sold the items to. Umar was arrested too and detained for investigation.
After thorough investigation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Ekezie Obinna Anthony ‘M’, Haruna Umar ‘M’ and others now at large on the 2nd day of January, 2026 at about 1100hrs, at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State, in the Ojo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit conspiracy/stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Ekezie Obinna Anthony ‘M’, and others now at large on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal 22 pieces of supermarket shelves valued N7,195,000.00 (Seven Million, One Hundred and Ninety Five Thou-sand Naira), property of Abutex Investment, represented by one Ifeoma Eziyi ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Haruna Umar ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did receive 22 pieces of supermarket shelves valued N7,195,000.00 (Seven Million, One Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Naira), knowing same to have been stolen, property of Abutex Investment, represented by one Ifeoma Eziyi ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Uche Simeon, told the Court to fix a date for hearing since the defendants pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J Layeni, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.