MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have begun manhunt for robbers, who allegedly invaded, burgled a church at night and carted away N5m musical equipment.
The church, Christ Anointing Church, is located at Alhaji Wosilat Street, Pako area of Lagos.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that one of the suspects, Otuoze Godwin, has been arrested and charged for the alleged conspiracy and stealing.
According to the Police, the robbers invaded the church on 10th May, 2024, disconnected all the musical equipment and escaped before day break.
Some of the items stolen included the sound mixers, equalizers, giant fans and some other electrical equipment.
When the management of the church came in the morning for service, they did not see any of the equipment and discovered that the church auditorium was broken and the items carted away.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ipaja Division. The operatived moved into action, eventually arrested one of the suspects, Godwin and detained him at the station for interrogation over the missing items.
After exhaustive interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, 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.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted him bail with sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses 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.