Man dragged to court for stealing cigarettes in Osun

A 30-year-old man, Yusuff Ahmod, has been docked before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing cigarettes worth over Two million naira.

The Police Prosecutor, Akintunde Jacob, informed the court that Ahmod pretended to be selling the cigarettes after obtaining them from a distribution company but defaulted in payment.

Jacob said the incident occurred on August 19, 2024, at about 10:00 a.m. at Ring Road Area of Osogbo. He said the cigarettes allegedly stolen were worth N2.29 million.

The charges read: “That you, Yusuff Ahmod, on the 19th August, 2024, at about 10:00 a.m. at Ring Road Area Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain cigarettes valued at Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Four Hundred Naira only (N2,291,400.00) from one Oyeshola Raphael, property of Y3 Distribution Nigeria Ltd., with the pretense of selling it and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“That you, Yusuff Ahmod, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal cigarettes valued at Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Four Hundred Naira only (N2,291,400.00) from one Oyeshola Raphael, property of Y3 Distribution Nigeria Ltd., and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 (1) and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Ahmod’s counsel, Najite Okobe, urged the court to grant his client bail.

Magistrate M. O. Olatunji granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the same amount.

Olatunji said the sureties are to be a blood relation of the defendant and a level 12 civil servant in the state. The case was adjourned till November 18 for mention.