Man docked for allegedly stealing hot plates worth N5,000

A 29-year-old Scavenger, Sulaimon Mohammed, was on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ court in Lagos for allegedly breaking into a company’s caravan and stealing five hot plates.

Mohammed, a resident of Tarkwa Bay area of Lagos is facing a two-count charge of theft and breaking in and committing felony.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at noon on Feb. 16, in the Atlas Community of Tarkwa Bay area of Lagos.

He said that the defendant was a well-known scavenger in the area who usually gathered iron around the construction site of the complainant company, MRS Oil & Gas Ltd.

According to him, the defendant broke into a caravan in the company’s site and stole five hot plates the construction workers were using to cook.

He told the court that the total value of the hot plates was N5,000.

Section 309 prescribes seven years imprisonment for breaking -in and committing felony, while 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of theft.

Magistrate Mrs A.O. Salawu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed, living within the court jurisdiction and had evidence of three years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government.

Salawu adjourned the case until May 5 for mention.