By Oluwaseun Ajayi
Ado Ekiti
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has granted an order to remand three persons, Martials Ponbut Benjamin 25 Amos Goli 22 and Nimmak Seltin 19 in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti, pending issuance of their legal advice from office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
According to the Police prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leramo, the defendants are serial burglars terrorizing traders in Adebayo Area of Ado Ekiti, the state capital. He explained that remanding them in the Correctional Centre will allow Police authority complete their investigation and forward their case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
According to the charge, the defendants between 5th of February and 20th March, 2022, they were reasonably suspected to have conspired to commit felony, Burglary and stealing on the following traders Olayinka Blessing, Tijani Adijat, Ape Motun, Aluko Yinka, Folorunso Motunrayo and Afolabi Olorunfemi respectively.
Item stolen include baby wears, provisions, clothes, handbags, ladies and men wears, food stuffs, fess caps, body cream, perfume, underwear, recharge cards among others valued at £4 Million, between the hour of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on those days.
In their confessional statements, the defendants regretted their actions. They explained that they had consumed some of the stolen items especially the food stuffs while other goods were sent to their shop in Onitsha, Anambra State for sale.
In his ruling, Magistrate Saka Afunso said, the defendants are hereby ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti pending legal advice. While prosecution is to duplicate the case file and forward same to Director of Public Prosecutions for a legal advice.
The case has been adjourned till 18th April, 2022 for mention.