Man docked for allegedly removing exhibit from court premises

A 37-year-old man, Ugwu Henry, was on Friday docked in a Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, for allegedly removing a Mercedes Benz car parked in the High Court premises meant to be tendered as an exhibit.

The police charged Henry, who resides in FCT, with house trespass to commit offence, theft in dwelling place and criminal misappropriation.

The Prosecution Counsel, Malik Taiwo, told the court that the defendant, sometime in May 2023 trespassed into the High Court premises, Gwagwalada, Abuja, and deceived the security man on duty Mr Hussaini Abutu.

Taiwo said the defendant paid the sum of N10,000 into the security man’s account domiciled with Zenith Bank with account number 2411637686.

He said the defendant made the security man believe that Okekwu Josiah, one of the court officials with High Court 11, Abuja had authorised the removal.

He said that the defendant dishonestly removed the Mercedez Benz car, model E320 with reg. No. SMK 892 DU, parked in the court premises by police Cpl Mohammed Isah of Area Commander Metro FCT, Abuja.

He said the car was meant to be tendered in evidence as an exhibit that was recovered in possession of one Babalola Matthew, who during police investigation confessed that it was part of a loot of N67 million.

The prosecutor said that during the police investigation, the defendant admitted to going to the Gwagwalada High Court premises and dishonestly removing the car and selling it to a scavenger.

He said the defendant converted the proceeds from the car to his own use.

Taiwo said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 352, 288 and 309 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Defence Counsel, Bennath Eke in his bail application prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 158, 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to buttress his claims for bail.

Magistrate Olatunji Oladunmoye admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

Oladunmoye ordered that the sureties must reside within the Court’s jurisdiction and must provide valid means of identification.

He adjourned the case until June 20 for hearing. (NAN)