A 22-year-old bartender, Ademola Ashaolu, who allegedly broke into a shop through the ceiling to steal seven laptops valued
at N195,000, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Ashaolu, a resident of Ipaja area of Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
Police Sgt. Godwin Awase, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 21 at Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.
Awase said the accused with others still at large conspired to burgle the shop of the complainant, Mr Patience Aldran, and carted away seven laptops valued at N195, 000.
“The accused gained entry into the complainant’s shop by breaking the ceiling. A witness who sighted the accused alerted the police.
“When the policemen arrived at the scene of the incident, it was only Ashaolu that was arrested while others escaped with the stolen goods,’’ the prosecutor said.
The offences contravened Sections 287, 309 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Section 309 prescribes seven years jail term for burglary.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mrs F.F. George, who gave the ruling, said the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until April 11 for mention. (NAN)