60-yr-old remanded after pleading guilty to N5m theft

A 60-year-old man, Olajide Julius, was yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody after he pleaded guilty to a seven-count charge of conspiracy, breach of the peace and stealing preferred against him by the police.


Julius was accused of stealing N5 million belonging to Oba of Isashi, Iba, Oba Kamoru Adams after he was alleged to have conspired with others at large to damage property belonging to the monarch by breaking into his palace.

He was docked before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo of an Ikeja Magistrate Court.

The defendant who said he did not understand English, except Yoruba language, however pleaded guilty to the first count charge read to him in English and translated to Yoruba.

Thereafter, Magistrate Fabamwo ordered that he be remanded in prison custody.

The police prosecutor, ASP Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the alleged offence on April 13, 2013, at about 11 am at 1, Baale Close, Ishashi Odan in Iba area of Lagos.

The prosecutor said after gaining entrance into the palace, they unlawfully damaged the palace by breaking the windows which is worth N50,000 and the entrance door, valued at N30,000,with axes and cutlasses.

He said the defendant alongside others he described as “thugs” stole N5 million cash, belonging to the Oba, while armed with dangerous weapons.

He said the offence is punishable under section 409,410,337, 305 (a) and (b) 306, 278, 285 and 166 (d) of the criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.