By Deborah Akpede
Lagos – A 27-year-old company employee, Collins Udeze, was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing his girlfriend’s ATM card and withdrawing N170,000 from the account.
Udeze, a resident of Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos, is being tried for stealing, assault and threat to life.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. G. B Ekundayo, the accused committed the offences on April 7 at Layi Oyekanmi Street, Mushin.
He said the accused stole N170,000 belonging to Miss Busayo Ogunleke, his girlfriend.
“The accused came to his girlfriend’s house and stole her ATM card and used it to withdraw her N170, 000.”
Ekundayo told the court that when the complainant discovered that it was the accused who withdrew her money, she confronted him and demanded her money but the accused beat her up.
“The accused assaulted the complainant by hitting her with iron on the head and also beat her up for confronting him and asking him to return her money.
“He also threatened to kill her or pour chemical on her to disfigure her, ” he said.
The offences contravened Sections 56, 173 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 173 and 287 prescribe three year jail term each for offenders.
The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mr MKO Fadeyi, said the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until Nov.1 for mention.