BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 58-year-old-man, Oyewole Bankole, and his three children have been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State on the account of stealing.
Bankole’s children, who are also co-defendants, namely Michael, aged 20; Seyi, 18; Shola, 18 alongside one Abdulahi Jamiu, 18; were accused of breaking into houses and stealing four assorted phones with total value of N460, 000.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, told the court that the young defendants stole the phones while their father received the stolen items.
Kayode said the offences were committed on March 25, 2022, at about 2am at Popo area, Osogbo, adding that when a search was carried out on Oyewole’s house, the stolen phones and charms were found.
The charge read that “You, Michael Bankole, Seyi Bankole, Shola Bankole, and Abdulahi Jamiu, on March 25, 2022, at about 2am at Popo area, Osogbo, did steal one Techno K7 handset valued at N40, 000; one iPhone X Promax valued at N365, 000, 00; one Itel handset valued at N5, 000; and one Infinix Hot Lite handset valued at N50, 000; all totaled N460, 000 only, property of one Odebiyi John and two others.
“You (defendants) burgle into the dwelling house of one Odebiyi John, Abiola Sulaiman Ololade, and Omoleke Ajarat with intent to commit a felony.
“You, Oyewole Bankole, in the same month in Osogbo, did receive one Techno K7 handset, one I-phone X Promax, one Itel handset and one Infinix Hot Lite handset from one Michael Bankole, Seyi Bankole, Shola Bankole, and Abdulahi Jamiu, knowing full well to be stolen properties.
“You (Oyewole) at the same time did possess some items suspected to be criminal charms and you did conduct yourself in a manner to cause breach of peace.”
Kayode said that the defendants committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 213, 249(d), 427, 516, and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The defence counsel, Fele Aso, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, saying that reliable sureties would be provided.
The trial Magistrate, A. K. Ajala, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with one surety each in the same amount.
He said that the sureties, who must be regular tax payers, must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned till June 15 for hearing.
