A 54-year-old man, Olajide Samson, who allegedly stole 1,000 catfishes worth N700,000 was on Thursday brought before an Epe Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.
Samson, who resides in Epe, is facing a count charge of stealing.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Moses Oyekanmi, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 11.00p.m. on May 6 at KM 8 on Epe-Lekki Expressway, Lagos.
He said that the accused stole the fishes from a pond belonging to Mr Justice Johnson.
Oyekanmi said that a security guard in charge of the pond caught the accused in the act.
He noted that the offence contravened Section 278 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes a three-year jail term for anyone convicted of stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and produce evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until May 31 for mention. (NAN)