25-year-old in court for alleged burglary

Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court

A 25-year-old man, Mohammed Ganiu, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly burgling an apartment and stealing items estimated at N645, 000.

The police said the defendant carted away phones, cash, and jewellery of the complainant, Oladimeji Kayode.

The incident was said to have occurred around 2am, while Kayode and other occupants of 22, Jebba Street, Ebute Meta were asleep.

The police explained that some suspects climbed a ladder, with which they entered the building and sneaked into the apartment.

It was, however, learnt that Ganiu was not among the real suspects, but was caught with one of the stolen items.

He was said to have bought one of the stolen phones from the real suspects who were at large.

Ganiu was asked to lead the police to where he bought the phone.

The defendant allegedly alerted the real suspects that the police was on their trail, leading to their escape.

He was subsequently arrested and arraigned on three counts of stealing.

The charge read in part, “That you, Mohammed Ganiu, and others at large, sometime in May, 2013,at 2am at 22 Jebba Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the following items; Z10 phone, BlackBerry Bold 5, BlackBerry Torch 2, Nokia Express Music and White Asha phone all valued at N200,000, gold jewelry valued at N370,000 and cash of S500 totalling N645,000, property of one Oladimeji Kayode.”

In tears, he said he was not guilty of the charge and elected to be tried in the magistrate’s court.

The magistrate, Mr. O.A Komolafe, admitted him to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.