LAGOS – Three market porters and a suya seller were on Wednesday in Lagos charged with
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stealing N960,000 worth of female handbags from Balogun Market at a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused — Bambala Isiaka, 30; Adamu Sule, 20; and Sefianu Mohammed, 19 – are porters, while Salisu Mohammed, 48, is the suya seller.
Isiaka, and Sefianu gave no residential address, while Sule lives at No. 23, Pelewura St., Lagos Island.
They are facing charges of conspiracy and stealing.
Salisu, a resident of No. 9, Afolabi Alassa St., Ijora-Badia, Lagos, is being tried for receiving stolen property.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, SP Chidi Okoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences at 2.00 p.m. on Jan. 12 at No. 33, Balogun St., Lagos Island.
He said that during a recent a fire at the market, the porters were engaged by the complainant, Mr Emeka Njoku, a trader, to help evacuate his goods to a safe location.
Okoye said instead of helping Njoku to save the goods, the accused stole three sacks of female handbags worth N960,000.
The prosecutor alleged that on the same day, the accused sold the handbags to Salisu, a suya seller, for only N15,000.
The offences contravened Sections 285, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Awogboro, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 and adjourned the case to March 10 for mention. (NAN)