BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Ebonyi State Command, has arraigned a suspect, Chigbogu Edeh, at a Magistrate’s court sitting in Abakaliki for allegedly stealing a cow.
A three-count charge against the father of two read that he stole a cow on the 12th of July, at Onuokpuru Isioffia in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state and laid false accusations against Ikechukwu Nwankwo and Ikechukwu Nweke, officials of Ebubeagu Security outfit.
Odion Oboh and L.N. Akam, NSCDC legal officers in Ebonyi State, opposed the bail application by the defense counsel. They held that the suspect committed offences punishable under sections 516(A)(1),390 and 125 all of Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume 1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, the trial Magistrate, Ngozi Ngele, granted bail to the accused person, saying that the traditional ruler of his community would be the one to recommend his surety, in writing.
The matter was adjourned to 16th August, 2021 for hearing.
In a similar development, three men were arraigned before the court by the NSCDC in the Command for stealing two goats valued at N30,000.
The suspects, Monday Effia, 42; Amaechi Ofoke, 35; and Uchenna Josiah, 36; in a suit marked MAB/499c/2021, allegedly stole some goats in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
They were said to have stolen one goat on 10th of July at Ndiebor Ishaigu Sharon in Izzi LGA. They also allegedly stole another goat at the football field of Community Primary School, Sharon, while the goat was left to graze on 31st May.
The Point gathered that when arrested following a tip off, items such as a telephone set, the sum of N60,000 property of Nweke Nwabueze, and the two goats were recovered from the suspects.
The charge read in parts, “That Monday Effia, Amaechi Ofoke and Uchenna Josiah, on 10th of July, at Ndiebor Ishiagu Sharon in Izzi Local Government Area within the Abakaliki Magisterial District did conspire to steal goats and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516(A)(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume 1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
It also read that they stole two goats valued at N30,000, contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume 1 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004. It added that they stole the sum of N60,000 and a telephone set.
The trial Magistrate, Ngozi Ngele, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each in like sum. The sureties, according to the Magistrate, must be responsible adults resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matters were adjourned to 16th of August for hearing.
