Man, 31, Sent To Prison For Burgling Church & Carting Away Musical Equipment

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 31-year old man, Akanbi Opeyemi, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly burgling a church and carting away musical equipment worth over N3.1m. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Light of the Living Apostolic Church located at Nike-Nike Street, Custom Bus-Stop, Abaranje Road, Ikotun-Lagos.

According to the Police, the suspect broke into the church when there was nobody around, carted away the items and escaped.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ikotun Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charge read:

“That you, Akanbi Opeyemi “m” on 1st January, 2025, at No. 16, Nike-Nike Street, Custom Bus-Stop, Abaranje Road, Ikotun-Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal One Speaker, One JBL Amplifier 500wts, One Voice Effect Machine, One Floor Monitor, 20 Pieces of in-to-in wires, One Electric Drum Set all valued Three Million, One Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Naira (N3,135,000.00) Property of Light of the Living Apostolic Church and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, 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. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, 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 at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.