Woman, 18-year-old son remanded over alleged theft in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

An Osi Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has ordered the remand of an 18-year-old student, Sunday Samuel, and his mother, Blessing Ode, over alleged theft of goods and cash worth about ₦3.8 million from a supermarket in Iju.

The duo were arraigned on seven counts bordering on conspiracy, breaking into a shop, stealing, obstructing arrest, concealing a felony and receiving stolen property.

The prosecution alleged that Samuel and others still at large broke into the supermarket owned by Obafemi Catherine during two separate incidents in 2025 and 2026. According to the prosecution, the first incident occurred at College Road, Iju, in 2025, while the second happened at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2026, at the supermarket opposite Sabo, Iju.

The court heard that items allegedly stolen included plates, baby products, footwear, clothing, bags, drinks, cosmetics, foodstuffs, perfumes, wine and an Itel Android phone. The prosecution valued the items allegedly stolen during the first incident at ₦1.363 million and those from the August incident at ₦2.427 million.

The prosecution further alleged that Samuel was captured on CCTV breaking into the supermarket, while his mother allegedly attempted to frustrate his arrest, concealed some of the items and received other property allegedly stolen by her son.

It was also alleged that when police officers went to Blessing’s residence on September 2 to arrest Samuel, she initially claimed he initially claimed he was not at home, but the officers later forced open her room and found him lying on her bed. Some of the alleged stolen items were reportedly recovered from a nearby bush.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecutor, Awana Josephine, sought an adjournment to study the case file and prepare witnesses, while defence counsel Godwin Bernard urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms. The prosecution opposed the application.

In her ruling, Magistrate Bukola Ojo ordered that Blessing be remanded at the Ondo Correctional Facility and Samuel at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, and adjourned the case until Sept. 24 for hearing.