The Ekiti State Government has arraigned five persons before a Chief Magistrates’ Court for stealing its 600 bags of cement and 16mm iron rods, valued at N1,530,000 and N35,000, respectively.
The accused are Jegede Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde.
Other stolen items, allegedly traced to the accused, were 180 pieces of marine board and one roll of binding wire, valued at N112,000 and N378,000, respectively.
The items, all valued at N2.05m, belonging to the state government, were meant for the building of the ultra-modern Oba Market in Old Garage, Ado Ekiti.
According to the charge, the alleged offence is punishable under sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
The two-count charge was filed by the state Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Count one read, “That you, Jegede Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde, between October 6, 2016 and March 31, 2017, did conspire to steal 600 bags of cement worth N1,530,000, 16mm iron rods worth N35,000, one roll of binding wire worth N112,000, 180 pieces of marine board worth N378,000, total value of N2.05m, property of the Ekiti State Government at the site of ultra-modern Oba Market, Old Garage, Ado Ekiti, within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor asked the Chief Magistrate, Idowu Aiyenimo, for a short adjournment to enable him to respond to the counter-affidavit and the preliminary objection filed against the charge.
He said, “We were served this morning; we thought we would be able to respond to the processes, but unfortunately, we are still at typing stage.”
The defence counsel, Olawale Obafemi, did not object to the application.
The Chief Magistrate, Aiyenimo, adjourned the case till August 17 for hearing.
