A 45-year old judiciary staff, Tosin Adeosun, has been remanded by the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town for allegedly stealing items worth N4,088,100 that were entrusted to his custody.
Adeosun was arraigned before the court on a four-count charge of theft.
The police prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, informed the court that Adeosun committed the offence on December 24, 2023 at the High Court of Justice, Oka, Ondo.
Part of the charge sheet read: “That you, Tosin Adeosun, on December 24, 2023, at the High Court of Justice, Oka, Ondo, within the Ondo Magisterial District, did steal a Hunter motorcycle with registration number NND026QM, valued at N1,500,000, an exhibit kept in the court premises and the property of one Tolulope Adeniyi, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390(10a) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Tosin Adeosun, on the same date, time and place within the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the following items: one washing machine valued at N309,000, one four-and-a-half mattress foam valued at N150,000, a court seal valued at N38,100, a travelling bag containing clothes valued at N100,000, and ten air conditioners valued at N3,500,000, totalling N4,088,100, properties of the Ondo State Judiciary, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Tosin Adeosun, on the same date, time and place within the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal iron sheets valued at N125,000, the property of one Elizabeth Akinlonu, kept in the court premises, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Tosin Adeosun, on July 2, 2024, within the aforementioned Magisterial District, were found unlawfully in possession of a military cardigan suspected to have been stolen, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 340 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
Olagbayi requested the court to remand Adeosun in Shegede prison pending the conclusion of the case.
However, the defence counsel, Kehinde Emuliomo, pleaded for bail, assuring the court that Adeosun would not abscond and would provide credible sureties.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs O. A. Omofolarin, denied the bail application and ordered that Adeosun be remanded in Shegede prison until the case’s determination.
The case was adjourned to November 5, 2024 for hearing.
