Two brothers, Saheed Giwa, Yusuf Giwa and one Timothy Okeleye, have been arraigned before Tinubu Chief Magistrate Court, over alleged conspiracy, forcible entry, willful damage to Property and stealing of building materials valued N10 million.
The two Giwas brother and their alleged co-conspirator, were arraigned before the court presided over by Magistrate A. O. Alogba, by the officers of Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
The three defendants, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, had sometimes in 2023, allegedly conspired among themselves and stormed SOC Viva 4 Limited, located at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos.
Animashaun told the court that the three men and others at large, while stormed the company, broke the padlock at the entrance of the gate, demolished the security house and stole building materials valued N10 million, belonging to the company.
He told the court that the actions of the three men, are contrary to sections 411, 340, 350 and 287 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under the same Laws.
The three men however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon the defendants not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court a trial date. While also prayed the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the conclusion of the charges against them.
But the defendants through their respective lawyers, urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms, argued the charges against them are bailable ones.
Magistrate Alogba in his ruling on the bail application, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Alogba also ordered the sureties to be, to provide two years tax payment receipt and affidavit of means of livelihood.
Magistrate Alogba while ordered that the defendant’s be remanded at the National Correctional facility adjourned to February 17, 2025, for mention.
Charges against the defendants read: “That you Timothy Okeleye ‘M’, Saheed Giwa ‘M’, Yusuf Giwa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometime in the year 2023 at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired amongst yourselves to commit Felony to wit: Forcible Entry, Willful Damage to Property and Stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you Timothy Okeleye ‘M’, Saheed Giwa ‘M’, Yusuf Giwa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometime in the year 2023 at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, forcefully entered the property of one SOC Viva 4 Limited by breaking the padlock at the entrance of the gate and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 340 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you Timothy Okeleye ‘M’, Saheed Giwa ‘M’, Yusuf Giwa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometime in the year 2023 at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, willfully demolished the security house built by one SOC Viva 4 Limited on the property located at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 350 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you Timothy Okeleye “M’, Saheed Giwa ‘M, Yusuf Giwa M’ and others (now at large) sometime in the year 2023 at Okah Avenue, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, stole the building materials valued N10, 000, 000 (Ten Million Naira) property of one SDC Vive 4 Limited located et Okah Avenus, Redeem Close, Off Emily Akinola Street, Akoka, Lagos and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 287 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 VoL 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015