Two Arraigned For Alleged $7,000 Theft In Lagos

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

Two persons, Jennifer Yakubu, 22, and Samuel Thaddaeus, 29, were on Friday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over alleged conspiracy and stealing of $7,000, equivalent to N9,275,000.

The defendants were arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and stealing.

The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences sometime in 2026 at about 11:30hrs at No. 150A, Lollaho Loway, Omole Estate, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, within the Lagos magisterial district.

According to the charge sheet, Count I alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit stealing, an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count II alleged that on the same date, time and place, the defendants stole the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00), equivalent of N9,275,000.00, property of one Veronica Akuete.

The prosecutor said the alleged stealing offence is contrary to Section 280(1)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court.

Following their plea, the prosecutor, SP Ademigbuji, asked the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to assemble its witnesses and prepare for trial. He also informed the court that the case was investigated by Insp. Ayinde Olubunmi of the Command Special Squad II, and that the investigation is still ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.

Counsel to the defendants applied for bail on liberal terms, assuring the court that the defendants would not jump bail and would make themselves available for trial. The defence counsel further submitted that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and urged the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.

The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application but asked the court to impose conditions that would ensure the defendants’ attendance at trial.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted the defendants bail with two sureties.

The court ordered that the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Magistrate Kusanu further ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to a later date for trial, with the court directing the prosecution to duplicate the case file and ensure all witnesses are available on the next adjourned date.

The case was filed by the Commissioner of Police.

Legal experts say the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.