Stealing is fast spreading in Nigeria as even a 30-year-old mother of two, Mrs. Patience Benjamin has been accused of stealing the sum of N500,000 belonging to her boss.
The housewife, who is now facing a case of theft before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Ojeleye, told the court that Mrs. Benjamin also stole one HTC hand set valued at N82,000 putting the total value of stolen items at N582,000, being property of her boss, Ibrahim Taharm.
He said that the offence was committed on December7, at about 6:00 p.m. at Oluyole Area, Ring Road, Ibadan.
Ojeleye said that the offence contravened Section 390 (6) of the Criminal Code, Cap.38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
It was learnt that Mrs. Benjamin left her boss’s house for a friend’s house before she was alleged to have stolen the money.
The charges against Mrs. Benjamin could attract seven years imprisonment, if convicted. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the accused, Mr. Wole Olajire, applied for her bail on a liberal terms.
The Chief Magistrate, Abdulateef Adebisi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500,000.00, with two sureties in like sum.
Adebisi said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation, while the second surety must be a level 10 officer in the Civil Service.
He adjourned the case to February 8 next year for hearing. [myad]