19 year old boy charged with theft of N300, 000 iron rods

A teenager, Ugochi Aliegu, on Monday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of iron rods valued at N300,000. Nineteen-year-old Aliegu, a resident of Bariga, Lagos, is facing a count charge of stealing, but he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 3.00p.m. on June 16 at Kadupe Junction, on Pedro Road, Bariga.

Olaluwoye said that the accused stole the rod from a construction site belonging to Mr Emeka Ogbuze.

“He was arrested while trying to sell the stolen rods,” she said.

“Upon investigation, it was discovered that it was not the first time the accused had stolen from that site,’’ she said.

The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that stealing attracts three years’ jail term.

“The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.J. Oghere, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oghere said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until July 4, for mention.