Man, 32, Opts For Prison Than To Refund N25m For Stolen Solar Panels

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 32-year old man, Olusola Olaniyi, has been remanded in prison custody after he opted for that than to refund the sum of N25m, which was the worth of Solar Panels he allegedly stole from the owner, Mr. Ololade Olawuyi, in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Olaniyi was arrested and charged before the Yaba Magistrate Court for conspiring and stealing 80 pieces of the Solar Panels worth the said amount on 17th May, 2024, in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.

According to the Police, he allegedly diverted the items. The owner later discovered that the items were missing and started tracing them and eventually discovered that Olaniyi was behind the missing items.

The matter was reported to the Police at the Commissioner of Police Special Squad team. The operatives moved into action, arrested Olaniyi and detained him at the Command for interrogation.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and asked him to return the items or refund the money but he declined and was told he would be charged to Court for the alleged offence. He insisted that he would not mind going to prison than to refund such huge sum of money to the complainant.

Thus, the Police charged him before the Yaba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charge read:

COUNT I: “That you, Olusola Olaniyi ‘m’ and others now at large, on 17th May, 2024 at about 12:00 hrs in Ibeju Lekki Area, in Lagos State Magisterial district, did conspire among yourselves to divert eighty (80) pieces of Solar panel structure valued Twenty Five Million Naira (N25,000,000.00) property of Mr. Ololade Olawuyi ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 410 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT II: That you, Olusola Olaniyi ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal Eighty (80) pieces of Solar Panel structure valued at Twenty Five Million Naira (N25,000,000.00), property of Mr. Ololade Olawuyi ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 (5) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, 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, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, granted him 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.