A septuagenarian, Godwin George has been accused of stealing beverages worth N83,000 from a shop at the Arena Shopping Complex in Bolade, Lagos State.
George, a resident of No. 5, Gbobi Str., Bariga in Lagos State, is standing trial on a charge of theft before an Ikeja Magistrate Court.
The prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offence in November 2015.
He said the accused stole beverages valued at N83,000, property of one Mrs Bukola Omoh.
“The accused came to the complainant’s shop, pretending that he wanted to buy some beverages. He packed beverages valued at N83,000 and disappeared with them.’’
The complainant said that the accused had asked for some other goods which she went to the next shop to collect for him.
Before I returned from the other shop, the accused had disappeared with what he packed from my shop without paying for them, she said.
The prosecutor said that the accused also on May 13 went to another shop close to hers to purchase same beverages.
And from there, the complainant sighted and recognised him and invited the police to arrest him, he said.
The offence, Nwosu said, contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Nwosu said that Section 285 prescribes a three- year jail term as penalty for offenders.
The accused pleaded innocent of the offence and was granted a N20,000 bail with one surety in like sum.
The magistrate, Mr A.A Adesanya, adjourned the case to May 23 for mention. (NAN)
