The police on Wednesday arraigned a 26-year-old security guard, Akeem Ayomide, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing goods worth N1.6 million kept in his care.
Ayomide, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of school breaking and stealing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olubu Apata, told the court that Ayomide and another suspect, who is still at large, allegedly committed the offences sometime in August and on Sept. 7 at Florence Court International School, Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti.
Apata alleged that the defendant broke into the school security store and, with the other suspect, removed several faulty materials belonging to the school without authorisation.
He alleged that the stolen items included one Mikano generator battery valued at N65,000, two car gears valued at N1.1 million, one Sienna rod valued at N60,000 and two iron rods for a drainage bridge valued at N200,000.
Other items allegedly stolen were two car upper arms valued at N124,000, one tied rod valued at N50,000, one FR linkage valued at N5,000 and two shafts valued at N54,000.
The prosecutor added that one boot absorber valued at N13,000 was also allegedly stolen, bringing the total value of the items to N1.6 million.
He said all the items belonged to the school and that the defendant, who worked as a security guard, was responsible for the school store.
According to him, the school management discovered that the faulty materials kept in the store had been stolen.
Apata said the offences contravened Sections 324(1)(2) and 302(1)(a)(6)(8)(b) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses for the hearing.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Adedayo Awe, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail or interfere with the proceedings.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Ajibade, granted the defendant bail of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and ordered compliance with the bail conditions.
She adjourned the case until Oct. 23 for hearing.
