Police Arraigns Ghanian, Security Man Over Allege Shop Breaking

By Abdullahi Omotayo

The Osun state police on Monday, March 5, 2018 arraigned a Ghanaian and security man over shop breaking.

The accused persons are Joseph Richard, 21; and Ola-Ojo Kole, 50.

Joseph, the Ghanian man is facing four-count charge while the security man Ola-Ojo Kole is facing two-count charge.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons, on February 3, at about 12:00 midnight at Prime area, Osogbo, conspired together to wit shop breaking and stealing, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun state Nigeria 2003.

The stolen items include, one itel A5 handset valued N25000, one Tecno spark k7 handset valued N38,500, one Tecno T660 valued N8500, three itel 2090 handset valued N12,600, itel 512 handset valued N28,500, itel 6910 handset valued  N9,000, and a infinix hot 5 pro valued N42,000.

Other items include a Tecno W1 N19,500, Tecno 350 pro handset valued N5,000, one itel 2060 handset valued N4,500, one tecno 403 Imei handset valued N6,000, one tecno WX3 handset valued N27,500, one tecno T112 handset valued N25,000, two zealot Bluetooth valued N16,000, itel 312 handset valued  N5,000 and original memory cards, as well as other items all total valued N1M properties of one Adeniyi Adebowale.

The counsel to the accused persons, Okobe Najite urged the court to grant the accused bail in most liberal terms since evidence has not proven them guilty of the charges levelled against them.

The prosecutor, Inspector Fagboyinbo Abiodun objected the application of the counsel.

He said granting of bail should be at the discretion of the court, saying, the first accused person is a Ghanian and before he was arrested in Osogbo, the police had to track him down.

He added that cases of house or shop breaking are rampant within the community.

Reacting to the objection of the prosecutor, the counsel to the accused persons, Najite said it was a speculation to say the accused persons will jump bail, saying, bail should not be based on country of origin which is the essence of sureties.

Najite added that the parent of Joseph lives in Osogbo and it is his constitutional right to get a bail.

The magistrate granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1,000,000 and two sureties each in like sum.

The sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction, one of which must be a civil servants, not less than level 10 and must present evidence of promotion, three year tax payments attached with an affidavit of means and address must be verified by the police.

Failure to perfect the bail conditions, the accused persons should be remanded in prison custody.

The case was adjourned till April 9, 2018 for hearing.