A 21 year old man, Taofeek Oladimeji has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Isolo for repeated offences, which has provoked the prosecutor.
Oladimeji who pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of attempting to commit felony, stealing and unlawful entrance into the premises of one Odirah Chinedu at No 4 Gbangba Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos with the intent of committing felony and stealing a thermocool generator valued at N80,000.
The prosecutor, Inspector Oje Uagbale told the court that Oladimeji entered the complainant’s compound, went where his generator was kept, removed the tarpaulin used in shielding the generator and was about dismantling the chain used to secure the generator when Chinedu caught him.
Oladimeji who claims to be a generator repairer by profession said he went to Gbangba Street, in search of one Musibau, a caretaker from whom he wanted to take over the duty of collecting their family’s house rent Gbangba Street in Ilasamaja.
“I didn’t enter the complaint’s compound, I only stood at his gate when he came and started accusing me of being a thief.
The defense counsel, prayed the court to grant Oladimeji bail but the prosecutor, though did not oppose the bail but reminded the court that the defendant is a serial offender who deserved to be brought to book.
“The defendant is a serial offender whose been accused three different times by three different complaints within the space of six months. This case is the fourth one”
The prosecutor went on to cite recent cases and its charge numbers indicting the accused as a serial offender of similar crimes.
“Oladimeji was arraigned in this court for stealing 1.4million from Mrs Oderinde, an 87 year old woman with charge number mm/B/104/18. He was accused by Idris Adetola and Augustine Sunday for stealing and selling their generators, of which Sunday’s generator was later retrieved and his family repaying Idris and the charges dropped. As well as stealing the generator belonging to one Joseph Ogala. Both cases bearing charge numbers MMB/27/19 and B/95/19” the prosecutor said.
The charges before the defendant are said to be punishable under sections 168(4), 308(2) and 406(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The case which was adjourned to the March 30, 2020 for further hearing is now pending post COVID-19 isolation re-opening.
