Court arraigns two over alleged theft, assault in Ekiti

By Boye Oyeyemi

Two men, Thomas Ikechukwu, 35, and Charles Emeka, 26, have been arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged conspiracy, theft, assault and malicious damage.

The defendants were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adosun on Tuesday on an eight-count charge, which also included obtaining by false pretence, obstruction of police officers and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Police prosecutor Akinwale Oriyomi told the court that the alleged offences were committed around 4 p.m. on August 14 in Ado-Ekiti.

Oriyomi alleged that the defendants caused a nuisance in a public place and conducted themselves in a manner likely to disrupt public peace.

He further alleged that Emeka, alongside another person still at large, obtained an iPhone 16 valued at N1.1 million from Ikechukwu through false pretence. He also accused Ikechukwu of stealing phone accessories worth N800,000 belonging to Emeka.

The prosecutor alleged that Ikechukwu and others obstructed Olujobi Ifedayo and his team while they were performing their lawful duties. He also accused the defendants of assaulting Musa Mohammed by spitting in his face and assaulting Adaramodu Raphael and Kolawole Goodness.

Oriyomi further alleged that the defendants damaged Mohammed’s Tecno Spark 4.0 phone, valued at N295,000, adding that the offences contravened relevant provisions of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Luke Mbam, applied for bail, which the magistrate granted at N100,000 each with one surety in like sum. Adosun adjourned the case until September 29 for hearing.