The police have arrested a 25-year-old man, Ayuba Adamu, for allegedly stealing wrappers belonging to his girlfriend, Alhaja Hajarat Jamiliu.The police said the Nigerien national also stole a cash sum of N10,000 from Jamiliu.
The incident happened on Market Street, Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State.
It was learnt that the duo had been dating for some time, with Adamu visiting his lover at her apartment in the community.
They reportedly had a misunderstanding, which had yet to be resolved when the incident happened.
A police source said the suspect sneaked into Jamiliu’s apartment at about 1am on Saturday and carried out the act.
He said the suspect, after he was arrested, attempted to escape but was later apprehended.
He said, “He sneaked into the woman’s house and took the items. The complainant reported at the Denton Police Division and said she suspected him.
“When he was arrested, he led the police to where he kept some of the items and only a bed sheet was recovered. We could not find the wrappers. The woman was willing to let him go and take back her belongings, but he decided to escape with the handcuffs on his wrists. He ran as far as Iddo junction and mixed himself with the crowd.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was spotted by some policemen controlling traffic in the area, who re-arrested him.
The police arraigned him and his friend, Mohammed Jaminu, 25, on three counts bordering on stealing.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Victor Iweada, who was represented by Corporal Augustine Chuwkwuocha, said the offence was punishable under sections 409, 285 and 106 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants were not represented by any lawyer.
While Adamu denied stealing the N10,000, he admitted to stealing the wrappers and running from police custody.
He said, “I stole the wrappers and bed sheet when I was going to my village. I kept two wrappers somewhere, while I gave the rest to somebody to sell for me. When I returned from my village, I discovered they had stolen the ones I kept, while I couldn’t get any money from the ones I gave someone to sell for me. I did not take any money.”
His alleged accomplice, Jaminu, a motorcyclist, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After preliminary enquiries, he was absolved of the charges, as both Adamu and Jamiliu testified that he was innocent.
The Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams discharged Jaminu and adjourned the facts and sentence for Adamu till July 24, 2015.
SOURCE:PUNCH
