The Osun State Police Command, on Wednesday, arraigned two iron scrap dealers, Salami Kabiru, aged 40; and Kasali Kolawole, aged 25; before the Osun Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, for stealing two cars.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Olayiwola Rasaq, told the court that the defendants and others, now at large, committed the offence in July, 2020, at Atelewo area of Osogbo.
He alleged that the defendants did conspire among themselves and did steal one Peugeot 406 car, with registration number KSF 439 EV, valued at N1,200,000, property of one Lawal Isiaka.
Olajiwola further said that the defendants did steal one Audi car, with registration number SAP 494 AA, valued at N650,000, property of one Adetunji Taiwo.
He said the offence was committed contrary to and punishable under Section 516,390(9), 451 and 430(2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol ll Law of Osun State 2002.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charges of conspiracy, stealing, malicious damage and unlawful possession allegations preferred against them by the police.
Their counsel, Okobe Najite, applied for their bail in liberal terms.
Okobe promised that the accused persons would provide credible sureties if granted bail and would never abuse the bail.
But the prosecutor opposed the bail application of the defendants, claiming that the defendants were arrested in a stressful condition.
He added that granting them bail would jeopardise the effort of the police to arrest others at large, saying that two cars were involved in the matter and granting them bail would send the wrong signal to the public.
In his ruling, Magistrate Opeyemi Badmus granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum.
Badmus said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendants and the second surety must be a civil servant, not below Grade Level Seven.
He thereby adjourned the matter till September 10, 2020 for hearing.
