Police arraign load carrier, one other over alleged theft of cooking items

Two women, Sikirat Sarafa, 30 and Alimat Akinola, 39, on Thursday, appeared before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly stealing cooking items, valued at N46,500.

The defendants are facing three counts, bordering on theft, unlawful reception of stolen cooking items and raising false alarm.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ayodele Ayeni, told the court that Sarafa and Akinola committed the offences on December 8, at Agbeni Market, Ibadan.

Ayeni said Sarafa, who earned her livelihood as a load carrier in the market, was hired by Deborah Ogundairo to carry cooking items from one location to another.

He listed the items to include two cartons of Royal oil, valued N21,200; two cartons of matches, valued N8,300 and two bundles of toilet roll, valued at N17,000, all totalling N46,500.

The prosecutor said that Akinola raised the false alarm that an innocent trader, Supo Goodluck, had stolen the cooking items from Sarafa, the load carrier, an action which, he said, resulted in a mob action against the trader.

According to him, the offences are punishable under Sections 390 (9), 427 and 84 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 38, Vol. II. Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

However, while Sarafa pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against them, Akinola pleaded not guilty.

The President of the court, Imoleayo Akinrodoye, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties each in like sum.

Akinrodoye, thereafter, adjourned the case till January 11, 2021, for commencement of trial.