Justice

The police on Thursday arraigned a 27-year-old undergraduate, Precious Otuya, at a Yaba Chief magistrate’s court in Lagos, for allegedly stealing his flatmate’s N150,000.

Otuya, who resides at No. 21, Bajulaiye road, Shomolu area of Lagos, is facing a count charge of stealing.

Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Dec. 31, 2018 at about 8 a.m. in No. 21, Bajulaiye Road, Shomolu, Lagos.

Olaluwoye alleged that the complainant, Mr Lawani Ojor, had woken up that morning to receive a debit alert of N150,000 from his First Bank account.

She told the court that Ojor had at the time noticed that his ATM card was missing from his wallet.

“My Lord, Otuya was the only flatmate the complainant had whom he accommodated being a student of Yaba College of Technology.

“The defendant stole the ATM card, withdrew the money and travelled to his village in Delta where he was arrested,” she said.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 280(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Chief Magistrate, Oluwatoyin Oghere, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oghere said the sureties should have their addresses verified by the court.

He further ordered the sureties to provide evidence of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until May 8 for mention.