By Adaeze Iroha
Epe – An Epe Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Friday admitted Matthew Emmanuel, 45, and Sodiq Sulaiman, 22, to a N50,000-bail for allegedly stealing iron rods valued at N70,000.
Emmanuel and Sulaiman, whose addresses were not given during trial, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing respectively.
One of the accused, Emmanuel, pleaded guilty to the first count of stealing but denied committing the second offence when they were read to him.
The second accused, Sodiq, rebutted the two counts.
The magistrate, Mrs O.A. Erusiafe-Fowowe, however, granted the two accused bail with two sureties each in like sum.
Erusiafe-Fowowe ruled that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of payment of two years’ tax to the Lagos State Government.
She, thereafter, adjourned the case until May 3 for mention.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Moses Oyekanmi, had told the court that the duo committed the offences at 3.00 a.m. at Abijo in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State.
Moses said that the accused persons conspired to break –in into a warehouse belonging to one Mr Olatunji Oluwadare.
He added that the accused stole eight pieces of 16 millimeters and 20 pieces of 12 millimeters iron rods from the warehouse valued at N70, 000.
“When the police questioned them, they confessed to stealing the iron rods, and led the police to where they kept them in the bush for prospective buyers.”
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders, while Section 411 stipulates two years for conspiracy.
