BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 19-year-old boy, Odewale Abdulmalik, and another, aged 24, Rauf Ridwan, have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court in Osun State for allegedly robbing a church of its properties.
The duo were also accused of breaking into the house of a resident of Osogbo and carting away his belongings.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, informed the court that the defendants committed sacrilege in the church, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
He told the court that the boys committed the offences on May 29, 2023 at about 2:00pm at Monyasau community, Oke-Baale, Osogbo. He maintained that the duo committed sacrilege at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church located in that area by burgling it.
According to him, the two friends conspired and broke into the dwelling house of one Adigun Lukman and stole his properties, including one Opal stabilizer valued at N7,500, one DVD player, valued at N5,000 and one speaker, valued at N2,500.
Kayode informed the court that the defendants damaged one Wooden door valued at N20,000 while trying to access Lukman’s room.
At the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Monyasau area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Abdulmalik and Ridwan allegedly committed sacrilege by stealing the church’s pulpit and bell among other sacred items.
“That you Odewale Abdulmalik and Rauf Ridwan on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal aluminum pulpit valued N85,000, one Cherubim and Seraphim Church banner valued N15,000, one bell valued N5,000, two curtains valued N7,000, some AKT bulb valued N4,5000, lamp holder valued N4,000, nail valued N6,000, one microphone set valued N45,000, electrical wire valued N5,500, two hand fans, value yet unknown, some beads, value yet unknown, all properties of Cherubim and Seraphim Church in care of one Ojo Michael,” one of the charges reads.
Kayode said the accused persons committed offences contrary to and punishable under Section 390 (9) l, 516, 411 390(9), 415 and 451 of Criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
They pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Their counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, applied for their bail and urged the court to make the bail conditions liberal.
Magistrate M. A. Olatunji granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in same amount. She said one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 10, while the other surety must own a property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter was adjourned till July 5 for hearing as the court ordered the prosecutor to make the suit’s proof of evidence available to the defence counsel.
Meanwhile, the young defendants couldn’t meet their bail conditions. They were taken to Ilesa Correctional Centre.
