AISHA ABUBAKAR
A 37-year old man, Ugwu Henry, has been arrested and charged before Magistrate Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja, for stealing a Mercedes Benz car parked at the High Court premises, which was meant to be tendered as an exhibit, after Inducing the security guard with N10,000 bribe.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Police charged Henry, who resides in FCT, for trespass and stealing.
The Prosecution Counsel, Malik Taiwo, told the Court that the defendant, sometime in May 2023 trespassed into the High Court premises, Gwagwalada, Abuja, and deceived the security man on duty, Mr. Hussaini Abutu.
Taiwo told the Court that the defendant paid the sum of N10,000 into the security man’s account domiciled with Zenith Bank with account number 2411637686.
He said that the defendant made the security man believe that Okekwu Josiah, one of the Court officials with High Court 11, Abuja had authorised the removal.
He said that the defendant dishonestly removed the Mercedez Benz car, model E320 with reg. No. SMK 892 DU, parked at the Court premises by Police Cpl Mohammed Isah of Area Commander Metro FCT, Abuja.
He said the car was meant to be tendered in evidence as an exhibit that was recovered in possession of one Babalola Matthew, who during Police investigation confessed that it was part of a loot of N67 million.
The prosecutor said that during the Police investigation, the defendant admitted to going to the Gwagwalada High Court premises and dishonestly removing the car and selling it to a scavenger and converting the proceeds from the car to his own use.
Taiwo said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 352, 288 and 309 of the Penal Code, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The Defence Counsel, Benneth Eke, in his bail application prayed the Court to admit his client on bail in the most liberal terms, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 158, 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to buttress his claims for bail.
The Presiding Magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, who must reside within the Court’s jurisdiction and must provide valid means of identification.
The matter was adjourned till 20th June, 2024, for hearing while the defendant was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.