3 Alaba Market Traders In Police Net Over Buying & Receiving Stolen N70m Goods

KINGSLEY EBERE 

Three traders at Alaba International Market, Ojo area of Lagos State, have been arrested and charged for allegedly  conspiring, buying and receiving stolen goods worth N70m. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that one of the suspects, Sochima Emmanuel, 26, allegedly went to the warehouse of the owner, Iwuno Innocent and stole electrical materials worth N70m and sold them to Nwakwo Chukwudi, 25 and Abube Valentine Dike, 25.

However, when the owner discovered that the items were missing, he reported the matter to the Police. The operatives moved into action and arrested the key suspect, Emmanuel and detained him at the station for interrogation.

And during the interrogation, he mentioned Chukwudi and Dike to have bought the items from him and they were also arrested and detained at the station.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found all of them culpable for conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods worth the money in question and consequently charged them before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.

Part of the charges read:

“That you Sochima Emmanuel, Nwakwo Chukwudi and Ebube Valentine on 18th day of April, 2024 at about 1100hrs at Alaba International Market, Ojo, in this Magistrarial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and  an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos 2015”.

“That you Sochima Emmanuel ‘M’, on the same day, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal goods such as Electrical Materials valued (Seventy Million Naira) property of one Iwuno Innocent M’ and hereby committed offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

“COUNT III: That you Nwakwo Chukwudi ‘M’ and Ebube Valentine Ndike ‘M’, on the sam day, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did receive stolen goods such as Electrical Materials from one Sochima Emmanuel ‘M’ knowing fully well same to have been stolen goods total valued (Seventy Million Naira) property of one Iwuno Innocent and hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 380 of the criminal law of La state of Nigeria 2015.

However, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Uche Simeon, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, LKJ Layeni, 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 for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.