Court remands traditional ruler, four others for stealing motorcycles and mobile phones

A traditional ruler has been remanded alongside four other accomplices for stealing, defrauding and malicious damages of people’s property in Bolorunduro, near Egbede-Owena in Idanre Local Government Area, Oba Oluade Adeniyi.

They were remanded by a Magistrates’ Court sitting at Idanre Magisterial District of Ondo State at the weekend

The accused persons, Oba Oluade Adeniyi, 54, and four others – Eniola Isaac, 49; Olajimi Akinyosotu, 40; Ade-Olubodun, 35 and Olowogbade Moyinoluwa, 38, were charged for conspiring sometime in September 2016 and March 2017 at Idanre in the Idanre Magisterial District, to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence/stealing, assault/malicious damages.

The accused persons on the same day and time in the aforementioned magisterial district did, with intent to defraud the following persons of their property, including a cash sum of about N1 million from the inhabitants of Agbelere camp through collection of illegal fees under the name of Bolorunduro Development, also stole N1 million from the inhabitants of Agbelere camp.

Contained in the charge sheet “The monarch and others did steal N22,000 property of Ajigbade Samson and another cash of N6,000, the property of Kola Oladayo.

“The accused also did steal N10,000, one Tecno handset valued at N22,000, property of Ojo Omolekulo and threatened the lives of some people, including Ajetomobi, Kola Oladejo, Ajigbade Samson and Ojo Omolekulo by attacking them with a gun and cutlasses.”

The accused were said to have unlawfully and maliciously damaged two motorcycles, one Honda and Haojue motorcycles valued at N200,000, the property of Ojo Omolekulo and Ajigbade Samson.

The alleged offences contradict and are punishable under sections 516, 419, 383, 390, 86 and 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The state government’s lawyer Olorunfemi Ayegbusi said since the matter was taken over by the police, the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was consulted for legal advice.

He prayed the court to act on the recommendation of the office of DPP, dated January 29.

Counsel to the accused, Adeyinka Adeyosoye, called for the report of the DPP and asked for a copy.

Chief Magistrate Mrs Yinka Omole said: “Consequent upon the earlier bail granted the accused, which the court lacked jurisdiction to grant, it is hereby revoked because the court lacks the jurisdiction over the case.”

The court ordered the five accused to be remanded in prison custody till they are arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction.