By Paul Iyoghojie
The Police at the Barbeach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria have arrested a 23 years old suspected thief, Desmond Ifeanyi and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing items valued at N57,000 at the Adiba Supermarket located on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Police alleged that trouble started for the defendant on March 14, 2023 when he entered the Supermarket like every other customer with the intention of buying something.
But before the Security men on duty knew what was happening, the defendant cleverly stole two ear pods valued at N48,000 and one Phone charger worth N9,000, all valued N57,000 and sneaked out of the supermarket unknown to him that CCTV cameras installed inside the Supermarket had captured him.
According to the Police, nemesis however caught up with the defendant when he returned to the Supermarket on 7 April 2023 with the intent to steal more items, but the vigilant Security men on duty quickly identified him with the picture they pasted on the wall and apprehended him.
The Security men sent a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Barbeach Division, Victoria Island about the incident who swiftly drafted his men to the scene to arrest the defendant.
The defendant, a resident of Victoria Island was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a count of stealing.
Police Prosecuting Counsel, Inspector Koti Aodohemba informed the Court that the defendant committed the offence at the Adiba Supermarket, located at Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on 14 March 2023.
Aodohemba told the Court that the defendant entered the Adiba Supermarket to steal items valued at N57,000 on 14 March 2023 and escaped unknown to him that the CCTV cameras installed inside the Supermarket had captured him.
Aodohemba informed the Court that as if that was not enough, the defendant again entered the Supermarket on 7 April 2023 to steal more items, but the vigilant Security men on duty quickly identified him through the defendant’s picture they had pasted on the wall, apprehended and handed him over to the Police.
He said the offence, the defendant committed was punishable under session 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate, Mrs Omoyele granted him N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Omoyele adjourned the case till 25 May 2023 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail.
