KINGSLEY EBERE
A 30-year old woman, Mary Ayeni, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly standing as a surety for suspected criminal, Toyin Ayeni, who allegedly stole company’s goods worth N8m and escaped.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the woman, Mary, has been arrested and charged before the Court for failing to produce Toyin. She was charged for obstructing and preventing the course of Justice by failing to produce the suspect.
The incident happened at Power Line off Joke-Ayo, AIT Road, Alagbado, Lagos.
According to the Police, the woman stood as a surety for Toyin at the company, where he allegedly stole beverages like Fearless drinks worth N8m belonging to the company.
When the company’s management discovered that Toyin stole the items, the management contacted Mary, who had signed as a guarantor to produce the suspect, who had already escaped and disconnected every communication he had with the guarantor.
The woman was unable to produce the suspect and she was subsequently arrested and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for obstructing and preventing the course of Justice by failing to produce Toyin.
Part of the charge read:
“That you, Mary Ayeni ‘f’, at Power line off Joke-Ayo, AIT Road, Alagbado Lagos State, in the Ikeja Magisterial District did obstruct and prevent the course of Justice by failing to produce one Toyin Ayeni ‘m’ whom you stood as a guarantor for at Ola Ore Transportation Company, who stole beverages, Fearless drinks worth Eight Million Naira only (N8,000,000.00k) property of Ola Ore Transportation Company and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 97(3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted her bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be 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 she will perfect her bail conditions.