The Lagos State Police Command on Monday arraigned a 52-year-old man, Kamarudeen Adeniyi, before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged forgery and stealing in the state.

The defendant is facing four-count bordering on forgery, stealing, malicious damage, and a breach of public peace.

The police prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2015, at Ajibade Oil Nigeria Limited, at Morogbo, in the Badagry area of the state.

Okuoimose alleged that the defendant forged the company document with a sworn affidavit and claimed ownership of the filing station.

He said, “The defendant stole three functional petrol pumps valued at N5.4m and one Lister generator valued at N350,000, property of Ajibade Oil Nigeria Ltd.

“Adeniyi maliciously damaged the electrical fittings in the station. He also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause the breach of public peace by stealing three pumps and one Lister generator.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 365, 287,350, and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Fadahunsi Adefioye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m, with two sureties in like sum.

Adefioye said the sureties, must own a property in the state, and present a voter’s card and tax receipts for three years before the court’s registrar as part of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till April 13, 2023, for trial.

PUNCH