By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
A 23-year-old man has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate’s Court in Benin City, Edo State, for allegedly stealing property worth N196, 000, belonging to the son of the state comptroller of prisons, Osagie Osayande
The accused, identified as one Osaro Ayewah, was arraigned on two counts bothering on breaking and stealing.
Ayewah was said to have committed the offence at about 10am on May 5, 2017, when he broke into Osayande’s residence on Ogumweuyi Street within Aruogba community, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
The police prosecutor, Ojo Thomas, told the court that the offences were punishable under Section 411(2) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo.
The accused pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him.
But his counsels Emmanuel Usoh objected to the plea and asked for an adjournment to enable him prove his case.
It was gathered that the 23-year-old bus driver was said to have forced his way into the apartment through one of the windows, after scaling through the perimeter fence when his victims were away on a social engagement.
Ayewah was said to have made away with several valuable items, including one plasma TV valued at N150, 000 worth N140, 000 and a satellite decoder valued at N6, 000.
However, he was said to have run out of luck when he was sighted by a resident in the area as he returned to the apartment two days later after a successful first mission.
The wife of the victim, Mrs. Imelda Osayande, told National Trail that Ayewah also made away with some of her clothes, which he wore on the day he was arrested by some members of a local vigilante in the area, following a distress call.
Osayande, who is also a journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, said, “he (accused) said that he sold the plasma TV for N12, 000. He was asked who the owner of the clothes was and he admitted that he took them from my house.
“He wore my shirt on the day he was caught; he wore my jeans, belt and shirt.”
However, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Isi Iyoha, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till May, 15 to enable counsel to the accused to prove his case.
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