Two teenagers and five men were arraigned before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court over the alleged theft of electrical fittings and household items valued at over N28 million.

The defendants, Sunday Odeshola, 15; Monday Ubah, 16; and David Odeshola, 45, faced a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft, and malicious damage.

Four others, Kaman Rabiru, 27; Lawal Shaibu, 25; Nazid Abdullahi, 27; and Ibrahim Khalid, 25, were charged with receiving stolen goods unlawfully.

The prosecutor, Inspector Lawrence Olu-Balogun, stated that the offences were committed between Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at Ariwo Quarters, Owode Egbe in Abeokuta, around 12:30 p.m.

He alleged that Messrs Odeshola, Ubah, and Odeshola broke into the residence of Akinwale Azeez and stole an Eito inverter machine worth N2 million, along with electrical wires, refrigerator compressors, and gas cooker burners valued at N26 million, amounting to a total of N28 million.

The prosecutor added that the accused also maliciously damaged an electric engine valued at N500,000, an entrance iron door worth N150,000, an aluminium window glass worth N50,000, and five refrigerators valued at N1 million, bringing the total damage to N1.7 million.

Messrs Kabiru, Shaibu, Abdullahi, and Khalid were accused of unlawfully receiving the stolen electrical wires, refrigerator compressors, and gas cooker burners.

According to the prosecutor, the offences violated Sections 516, 390(9), and 427 of the Ogun State Criminal Code Laws, 2006.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Dr. B.O. Ilo, granted bail to the defendants at N2 million each with one surety each. He stipulated that the sureties must be bondsmen registered with the Ogun State Judiciary.

The case was adjourned until Jan. 10, 2025, for hearing.

(NAN)