CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Two men, Chiemelia Arubiolobi and Chimbat Emmanuel Manafou, were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court on May 25, 2016, over allegations of warehouse burgling and carting away motor parts worth N10,300,000 in the Ojo Magisterial District.
The charge was filed by the Commissioner of Police. According to the charge sheet, the alleged incident occurred between October and November 2020 at Raphael, Ojo, within the Lagos magisterial district.
In Count I, the defendants and others now at large were accused of conspiracy to commit felony. The prosecution said the act of alleged stealing was contrary to and punishable under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Count II detailed the alleged theft. The charge stated that the defendants and others now at large dishonestly entered a warehouse and carted away various auto parts belonging to one Okafor Ekene.
The items listed in the charge included 10 cartons of carter plate 405 valued at N1,000,000. The prosecution also alleged 10 cartons of clutch disk 405 valued at N1,000,000 were taken.
Further listed were 7 cartons of fan belt roller 206 valued at N1,235,000. The charge also stated that cartons of front linkage 206 valued at N987,500 and 5 cartons of front linkage 306 valued at N607,500 were allegedly stolen.
Other items included 2 cartons of top gasket 205 valued at N200,000. The prosecution also alleged the carting away of 10 cartons of crush mount Peugeot boxer full valued at N2,750,000.
The charge further listed 10 cartons of crush mount Peugeot boxer short valued at N3,750,000. The total value of all the alleged stolen items was put at Ten Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira, N10,300,000.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The matter was presented by the prosecutor, SP Uche Simeon. The Investigating Police Officer listed was Inspector Adebayo Adebowale of Onireke Police Station.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, SP Uche Simeon, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove the allegations.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
Under Nigerian law, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The court will decide the matter based on evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence during trial.