Man, 37, Arraigned For Allegedly Stealing Goats & Rams Inside Market

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 37-year old man, Shittu Yunusa Galadima, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing three live goats, rams and cows inside the market. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Alaba Rago Market in Ojo area of Lagos State.

According to the Police, the suspect fraudulently obtained the animals from the complainants under the false pretence of rearing the animals for them but he sold them and escaped to an unknown place.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ojo Division and the Police moved into action. He was eventually arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During interrogation, the Police discovered that the suspect has sold the animals, spent the money and ran away before he was later arrested.

He was subsequently charged before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT 1: “That you, Shittu Yunusa Galadima ‘M’ sometime in the year, 2022 at Alaba Rago Market, Ojo, in the Ojo Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain Two live Rams. Three live Goats and Three live Cows, total valued N1,430,000.00 (One Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) from one Fatai Balogun ‘M’ and Saheed Giwa ‘M’ under the pretence to rear the animals for him, a presentation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT 2: “That you, Shittu Yunusa Galadima ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal two live Rams and Three live Goats valued N1,100,000.00 (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira), property of one Fatai Balogun ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT 3: “That you, Shittu Yunusa Galadima ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal three live cows valued N330,000.00 (Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira), property of one Saheed Giwa ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Esther Adesulu, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ogun, granted him 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.