A 34-year-old GSM operator, Emmanuel Usman and a trader, Chioma Eze, aged 28, have been dragged before a Magistrate’s court in Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly receiving stolen items from an ex-convict, Abiola Biola.
Usman and Eze were said to have conspired and received one Infinix X600 iphone, valued at N184,000 and a gold necklace, valued at N137,000, from Biola, who had stolen the items from its owner.
The Police prosecutor, Sergeant Ajayi Sunday, informed the court that the offence was committed in June, 2016 at Olaiya area in Osogbo.
It was gathered that Biola had allegedly stolen the items belonging to a sex worker in Osogbo, three days after he finished serving a jail term in Ilesa Prison.
Biola was said to have robbed the sex worker, identified as Blessing Olowomeye, on July 3, 2016, at about 20:30am at Sky Light Hotel, Ogo-Oluwa area, Osogbo.
He was said to have later sold the items to the two accused persons in their shops at undisclosed amount.
Following his arrest, Biola was said to have told the police that he gave the phone and necklace to Usman and Eze.
The prosecutor further informed the court that the accused persons have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 516(a) and 427 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, vol. II. Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the three count charge preferred against them.
Their lawyer, Mrs. Dada Adeyinka, applied for their bail, stressing that they would furnish the court with reliable sureties.
The Presiding Magistrate, H. O. Basiru, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety each in the same amount.
She adjourned the case to September 9 for hearing.
