The police on Tuesday arraigned Richard Tallen, son of a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen, before an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing his mother’s jewelries.
Richard, 30, was arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, house breaking and theft contrary to Sections 97, 346 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Richard pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor Abiola Oyewusi told the court that Richard conspired with others, now at large, and broke into his mother’s room at her private residence at Kobia Close, Wuse, Abuja.
Oyewusi said the incident occurred on June 13.
Oyewusi alleged that the accused, who is the only son of the politician, and his accomplices succeeded in carting away jewelries and other valuable items worth millions of naira.
The prosecutor said that during police interrogation, the accused person allegedly admitted committing the crime.
Oyewusi objected to bail for the accused because investigation was ongoing and the remaining accused still at large.
He said: “We are strongly opposing the bail of the accused because the offences he is charged with are not ordinarily bailable.
“We ask the court to give the police two weeks to finish their investigation and to try to arrest the remaining ones at large to face prosecution.”
Senior Magistrate Bashir Alkali refused the application for bail and ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
He adjourned the case to July 10 for hearing.
Richard’s arraignment is coming barely 24 hours after he filed a suit against his mother at an Abuja High Court over his alleged unlawful detention.
He joined the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force as defendants in the suit.
He prayed the court to declare his arrest and detention since June 13 as unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental human rights.
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