2 men docked over alleged theft, receipt of stolen items

Two men, Adebayo Olumide, 26, and Abubakar Bashir, 35, on Tuesday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing and receipt of stolen property. The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a two-count charge bordering on stealing and receiving stolen property. The prosecutor, ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants and others now at large committed the offences on May 29 at about 5:00 p.m. in the Okesa area of Ado-Ekiti. He alleged that the first defendant, Adebayo Olumide, stole one pulpit glass valued at N250,000, one Tiger generator worth N250,000, conduit wire valued at N400,000 and six pieces of sliding glass worth N360,000. (NAN) Other items allegedly stolen included one Hanja speaker engine valued at N50,000, 88 pieces of window louvre glass worth N44,000, eight ceiling fans valued at N200,000 and iron rods worth N45,000, bringing the total value to N1.5 million. The items belonged to Olorunkemi Aladetoyinbo. Oriyomi further alleged that the second defendant, Abubakar Bashir, dishonestly received five pieces of iron rods from the first defendant, knowing or having reason to believe that they were stolen. He said the offences contravened Sections 302 and 343(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the defendants, Mr Gbenga Ariyibi, urged the court to grant them bail, assuring that they would not abscond. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted each defendant bail in the sum of N250,000 with one surety each in like sum. He adjourned the case until June 30 for hearing. (NAN)