MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two women, Babalola Mariam, 54 and Mutiat Elias, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly conspiring and stealing a N7m Ford pick-up vehicle parked inside Mechanic village belonging to Ihimekpen Abomere.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Mechanic workshop located at Ajao Estate area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspects stole the vehicle when there was nobody in the workshop and went away. When the owner of the workshop started looking for the vehicle, it was later discovered that it was stolen by the suspects.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area P Command at Ipaja. Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command for interrogation.
After interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Babalola Mariam ‘F’, Mutiat Elias ‘F’, On the 17th day of July, 2024 at Mechanic workshop, Ajao Estate Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Babalola Mariam ‘F’, Mutiat Elias ‘F’, on the same date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal a Ford pick-up vehicle valued at the sum of Seven Million Naira Only (N7,000,000.00K) property of one Ihimekpen Abomere ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, K.A. Ariyo, granted them bail in the sum of N1m 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 till 9th December, 2024, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.