Court remands pastor, 4 others over N6.5m theft, burglary

An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ court, yesterday, remanded a man believed to be pastor and four others for allegedly breaking into a shop in the city and carting away goods worth N6.5 million.

The accused are Peter Olawale, 34; Sunday Job, 27; Ajagbe Babatunde, 25; Olaiya Saidi, 23; and Adedeji Musibau, 24.

The Chief Magistrate, Adebayo Lasisi, said the men should be remanded in Ilesha prisons until their bail application is considered.

The prosecutor, Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on December 22, 2013 at 10.30 p.m. at Igbona area of Osogbo.

He said the men broke into a shop and a warehouse belonging to one Josephat Onwubufo.

According to Ajadi, they stole 40 laptops, 16 digital cameras and memory cards valued at N6.5 million.

He said they also stole 62 mobile phones valued at N484,950 belonging to one Egwuogu Uche from the shop.

He noted that the offences contravened Sections 390 (9), 413 (1), (2), 417(c) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Hasheem Abioye, Mrs Muslimat Nagode and Miss Olatunbi Tobi, urged the court to grant them bail.

The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail on the grounds that the amount involved was big and that the accused were not resident in Osun, saying: “If they are granted bail they may jump bail.”

Ruling on the bail application has been adjourned to January 17

VANGUARD