A 48-year-old unemployed man, Uche Igwe, was on Friday in Lagos brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N270,000.
The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sept.11, at Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to him, Igwe under the guise of asking for directions, ordered Mrs Catherine Iduh to hand over her bag to him, which contained the said amount.
“The accused approached the complainant asking her for directions, but the complainant ignored him and continued walking home. The accused touched her and the complainant started obeying his instructions.
“He commanded her to give him the money in her bag and the complainant complied.
“After the accused collected the money and left, it dawned on the complainant that she had been charmed,’’ the prosecutor told the court.
Ogu said that the complainant saw him a few days later and called the police, which led to the arrest of the accused.
He told the court that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Code, Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing.
Igwe, whose residential address is unknown, however, entered a `not-guilty’ plea to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs J.A Adegun, admitted him to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties.
She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Adegun adjourned the case until Oct. 16, for hearing. (NAN)
