MICHAEL AKINOLA
When a man, Mr. Bello Adeniyi, engaged a 51-year old Hassan Mohammed as security guard in Lagos State, he did not know that he had actually employed a habitual criminal as a security guard until he stole his N1m worth power generating set at night.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Adebiaye Street, Idimu area of Lagos, where the victim, Mr. Adeniyi, resides.
According to the Police, after Mohammed was employed as a security guard, at night while Mr. Adeniyi was sleeping, he went where his power generating set was kept and carted it away.
In the morning, when Mr. Adeniyi went where he kept the generator, it was no longer there. The guard, Mohammed, was asked but he claimed he knew nothing about it and started searching for it with the owner.
However, as the guard was denying not knowing what happened to the generator, one of their neighbours, who saw him at night with the generator exposed him.
The matter was reported to the Police at Idimu Division. The guard was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable for stealing and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then 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.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K Dosumu-Uthman, granted him bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 25th March, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional centre in Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.