Police arraign man for stealing N12m

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

A 34-year-old man, Abuchi Ejikam, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing N12m.

Ejikam, who is based in Indonesia, was said to have conspired with some persons at large to commit the alleged theft at the Satellite Town area of Lagos.

The complainant, Mr. Ejidike Ikenna, told the police that the group infiltrated his premises in April, 2013.

While the police was able to arrest the defendant, his accomplices were said to have fled.

Ejikam was arraigned on two counts of stealing.

The charge read in part, “That you, Abuchi John Ejikam, and others at large sometimes in the month of April, 2013 at No 5, Esietodo Street, Satellite Town, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N12m (Twelve Million Naira) only, the property of Ejidike Ikenna and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(9)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.

The prosecutor, Mr. Clement Okuoimose, announced the presence of the investigative police officer, and added that the complainant was “unavoidably absent.”

The defence counsel, Mr. C.I Nwoke urged the court to grant Ejikam bail in liberal terms, arguing that he had no criminal record and had been in police custody for two weeks.

“This is a case of malicious prosecution,” he added.

Okuoimose however objected to his bail.

He said, “I object t the bail of the defendant. He had wanted to transfer the matter from the State Criminal Investigation Department to a department where he could easily manoeuver and influence things. Again, the defendant is based in Indonesia and has no fixed address as far as Nigeria is concerned. If he is granted bail, the possibility of his committing a similar offence is high.”

The magistrate, Mr. O.O Olatunji, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till November 22.