Court Remands 4 Men Over Alleged Stealing Of Jeep Valued N12m
Four men, Odunlami Soleu Wale, Salami Isiaka, Tajudeen Yekini and Nurudeen Ogunmola, were today remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) by a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, over alleged conspiracy, stealing and receiving of stolen good.
The four men were remanded by the court presided over by Senior Magistrate Ayoku Gbajumo (Mrs), after they all pleaded not guilty to the charges made against them by the Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
The four men were arraigned before the court on the alleged offences by Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer in the legal/Prosecution Department of the ForceCID, Lagos.
At the hearing of the charges against the defendants today, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun told the court that one of the four men, Odunlami Soleu Wale, on December 17, 2024, at Orile-Agege, Lagos, conspired among themselves and stole a Grey Toyota 4runner vehicle with Chassis No. JTEZUI7RX8K0063731, valued N12 million.
Animashaun also told the court that the other three defendants, Salami Isiaka; Tajudeen Yekini and Nurudeen Ogunmola, received the said stolen jeep from Odunlami Soleu Wale, knowing fully well that the said jeep was stolen.
He further told the court that the stolen jeep belongs to one Jiten Khemani.
Animashaun told the court that the alleged ignoble acts of the four men contracted sections 411; 287 and 328 (1) & (2)(b) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015. And punishable under the same laws.
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations, after the charges were read to them.
Based on their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, asked the court for a trial date. He also urged the court to remand the four defendants, pending when their charges against them shall be decided.
However, their lawyers who includes: A. O. Opade and Semire Onifade, while orally applied for their clients’ bail, appealed to court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms. Adding that his client has reliable sureties and that they will make themselves available in court till the charges against them is determined.
Senior Magistrate Gbajumo in her ruling on the bail application, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of 1 million with two responsible sureties, who must be residents of Lagos State.
Other bail conditions includes: evidence of three years tax payment and means of livelihood.
The Magistrate while adjourning the matter to March 10, for mention, also ordered that the bail conditions must be verified by the prosecutor. Adding that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of the NCoS pending the perfection of bail terms.
Charges Against the four defendants reads: “That you Odunlami Soleu Wale ‘M’ and Salami Isiaka ‘M’ on or about the 17th day of December, 2024 at Orile Area of Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired amongst yourselves to commit Felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you Odunlami Soleu Wale ‘M’ on or about the 17th day of December, 2024 at Orile Area of Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, stole a Grey Toyota 4runner vehicle with Chassis No. JTEZUI7RX8K0063731 valued N12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million Naira) property of one Jiten Khemani and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 287 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you Salami Isiaka ‘M’, Tajudeen Yekini ‘M’ and Nurudeen Ogunmola ’M’ between 17th – 27th day of December, 2024 Orile Area of Lagos State, received a Grey Toyota 4runner vehicle with Chassis NO: JTEZUI7RX8K0063731 valued N12,000,000.00 (Twelve
Million Naira) from one Odunlami Soleu Wale and aided in disposing, same despite knowing that it was a stolen vehicle and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 328 (1) & (2)(b) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”