The Ondo State Police Command have dragged three teenagers before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in the state over accusations bordering on theft, burglary and felony.
The three suspects were charged for allegedly stealing beverages worth N520,000, NIGERIACRIME learnt.
The suspects, according to the police, include: Kolawole Akinsoto, 16, Ayolere Oluwole, 16 and Abayomi Ogungbire, 15.
According to the Prosecution Counsel, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, the incident happened on November 15, 2022 around 6am at Irepodun Street, Ayeka in the Okitipupa area of the state.
The prosecutor told the court that the trio burgled into the shop of one Ms Mercy Obolo and stole parks of bottled coke, cartoon of detergents, tomato paste and other beverages worth N520,000.
Furthermore, Orogbemi stated that the offence contravene the provisions of sections 351, 516 and 390 (9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
However, the three suspecrs pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against them.
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The Chief Magistrate, Mr Chris Ojuola, blamed parents of the defendants for failing to supply and provide for the needs of their wards.
He asked Durodola Akinsoto, 54, Prophetess Kemi Obolo, 35, business woman and Victoria Makinwa, 60, farmer to stand as sureties for the defendants.
In another news, a suspected kidnapper who abducted a six year-old girl in her mother’s car at a groceries shop in Akure, the capital of Ondo State has been arrested while trying to withdraw part of the ransom money.
The suspect had demanded N50 million to release the girl.
The suspect abducted the girl while her mother left her in her Toyota Corolla Car at Lafe Area, Akure, to go and shop for groceries for the family.
The mother of the girl, Mrs Chukwu-Ezedima, consequently reported the kidnapping of her daughter on Dec. 21, 2022, at 9.00p.m, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Command said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Saturday.
Odunlami-Omisanya said that the suspect, who allegedly demanded N50 million from the family as ransom, was arrested on Dec. 31, 2022 at a POS stand while trying to withdraw part of the money.
But she did not say if the ransom was paid in full.