Policemen from State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos, have arrested an alleged notorious container snatcher, Uchenna Obidile, popularly called Olowun, for stealing a 40 feet container, carrying Supermaster motorcycle tyres and tubes, valued N35 million, belonging to a businessman, Chief Ralph C. Obi.
Following his arrest, he was arraigned before an Ebute-metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a two count-charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing.
Arraigning the suspect before the court, the prosecutor, Inspector Oladele told the court that the accused and others now on the run, committed the offence on July 20, 2017, on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, after the the truck carrying the container left Apapa Whaf to deliver the consignment to the owner.
The prosecutor told the court that after the snatching of the container, the owner, Supermaster Nigeria Limited, represented by Chief Obi, petitioned the the Deputy Commissioner in-Charge of SCIID, Panti, Mrs. Yetunde Longe.
The prosecutor also told the court that upon receiving the petition, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-Charge of SCIID, assigned a team led by Inspector Oyedele Oyekunle, to investigate the petition and get the suspect arrested.
The prosecutor further told the court that the suspect was recently arrested confessed to the the criminal act, and that upon conclusion of the investigation the suspect was charged to court on two count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
Inspector Inspector Oladele told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened sections 411 and 287(5) of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon his plea of not guilty, his lawyer, Spourgeon Ataene, pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.
Ataene, further pleaded with the court not to make the bail terms a very stringent ones, so that his client will be able to attend his trial.
In response, the prosecutor, Inspector Adebayo Oladele urged the court to grant bail to the defendant in a condition that will ensure his attendance in court during trial.
However, granting bail to the defendant, Chief Magistrate O. O. Olatunji admitted him to bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in the same like sum.
Chief Magistrate Olatunji also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax paid to the Lagos State government, means of livelihood and have their both residence and office addresses verified by the prosecutor.
Chief Magistrate Olatunji while adjourned that matter till September 5, for trial, orderer that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
COUNT I: That you Uchenna Obidile ‘m’ and others at large, on or about the 20th day of July 2017, in Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State or Nigeria 2015.
The second count read: “that you Uchenna Obidile, ‘m’ on the same date time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal a 40ft container containing brand new Super-Master Motorcycle Tyres and tube valued N35, 000 000. 00 (thirty five Million Naira) property of one SuperMaster Nig. Ltd represented by Chief Ralph C. Obi “m and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 287 (5)(b) of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015”.