KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from Area G Command of the Lagos State have arrested a 20-year old man, Hassan Makinta, for allegedly burgling a shop and carting away items worth N10m belonging to Mrs. Odebiyi Omolara.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened in May, 2025, at Gold Rim Plaza, Aguda Ogba area of Lagos State, where the shop is located.
According to the Police, the suspect burgled the shop at night and stole the items when the owner had closed and gone home after business. However, when the complainant came to the plaza the following day and discovered what happened, she reported to the Police. The Police operatives then moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspect at the Command for interrogation.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, HASSAN MAKINTA ‘M’ and others now at large on the fateful day in May, 2025 at Aguda Ogba, Lagos State in the Ikeja 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, HASSAN MAKINTA ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did break and enter the shop of one MRS. ODEBIYI OMOLARA ‘F’ at Gold Rim Plaza, Aguda Ogba, Lagos State, with intent to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 307 (a) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, HASSAN MAKINTA ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal Forty cartons of Mobil (1) engine oil valued N4,970,000 (Four Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira), Seventy Cartons of Mobil engine oil value ₩2,170,000.00 (Two Million One Hundred Seventy Thousand Naira), Seventy Four cartons of Oando engine oil valued N1,998,000.00 (One Million Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Naira) and Fifty eight cartons of Total engine oil valued N1,450,000.00 (One Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) with total value N10,588,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand Naira) property of one MRS. ODEBIYI OMOLARA ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, 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. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, 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 at Kirikiri town, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.