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An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court has arraigned a 62-year-old grandmother, Veronica Adedun, and her daughter, Yemisi Adedun, for alleged shop-breaking and stealing.
Two other persons, Taye Abidakun and David Sunday were arraigned alongside the duo.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that both Abidakun and Sunday were serial burglars and that they specialized in breaking into peoples’ shops and homes to steal their properties.
A three-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy, shop breaking and theft was preferred against the defendants.
The offences, according to Akintimehin, contravened Sections 516(A)(1), 413(1) and 430 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Laws of Ondo, 2016.
Akintimehin said that the stolen goods were supplied to Yemisi and her mother.
According to him ” they were caught after breaking into a shop on April 14, at Obanla Street, Akure and stole goods worth over N 2 million
The prosecutor added that the woman and her daughter dishonesty received the goods even when they knew they were stolen.
Akintimehin said ”Other properties found in the woman’s possession and reasonably suspected to be stolen are; 16 white chairs, in which one of it has an inscription ‘Mercy English Baptist Church, Akure, two ceiling fans, 3 Ox fans, four wall clocks, Deep freezers, two refrigerators, various electronics, and two bundles of iron sheets.
“Also, various kitchen utensils, a sack containing used clothing, including a Ghana-must-go bag containing Civil Defence uniform, Peace Corps uniform, black combat shoes and a seven booklet invoice sales receipt which the address could not be traced which they use to sell the stolen properties.”
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Presiding Magistrate, Musa Al-Yunus granted Taye bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum, while others were admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000.
Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus ordered that the four defendants be taken to the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure if they were not able to meet their various bail conditions.
He thereafter adjourned the case to May 23, 2022, for a hearing.