On Tuesday, the police arraigned a scavenger before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for wilfully damaging home appliances and stealing properties worth millions of naira.
The defendant – Azeez Bello, 32; – is being tried on a two-count of wilful, unlawful damage and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Samuel Ishola, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between Jan. 23 and 30 at 273B Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Isholla said the man wilfully damaged home appliances consisting of light fittings, aluminium windows and doors sockets, switches and cables.
He said the appliances worth N25 million belong to Mrs Kofowora Akinrinlola.
Ishola added that after damaging the said appliances, the defendant stole them.
According to the complainant, the defendant jumped into her building at the above mentioned address.
“He vandalised all the appliances mentioned therein while some went missing.
“She went to her property and found the defendant with a knife vandalising the appliances and alleged he stole some,” he said.
Ishola reminded the court that the offences violated Sections 287 and 350 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 350 prescribes a two-year jail term for willful and unlawful damage if found guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, A.A Paul, granted the defendant bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Paul said the sureties must be gainfully employed with three years tax payments and their addresses must be verified.
Paul adjourned the case until March 11 for a substantive trial. (NAN)
