Police arraign lawyer for allegedly stealing N13.5m
The police on Thursday arraigned a lawyer, Akpoviroro Daniel, for allegedly stealing solar equipment valued at N13.5 million.
Daniel was arraigned before a Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, for allegedly seizing the solar equipment valued at N13.5 million from a businessman over a purported debt of N1.9 million.
Daniel, who lives at No. 211, Karu Federal Housing Estate, Abuja, is charged with mischief and theft.
Mr Olanrewaju Osho, the Prosecution Counsel,, told the court that the matter was reported at the Asokoro Police Station by a complainant, Michael Bright, of No. 16, Ajayi Crowther St., Asokoro, Abuja.
The prosecutor in his submission said that the complainant alleged that sometime in August, 2022, the defendant went to his shop, forced the door open and stole one big solar generator, two small solar generators and six lithium batteries all valued at N13.5 million.
According to him, the lawyer’s offence, contravenes the provisions of sections 327 and 288 of the Penal Code.
Osho said that during the police investigation, the defendant was traced and subsequently arrested.
He said the defendant told the police that he took the items in place of the sum of N1.9 million which the complainant owed him.
Ruling on the matter, the trial judge, Umar Mayana, admitted the defendant to N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered the defendant to deposit N500,000 with the court registrar as restitution to the complainant.
The judge also ordered that the sureties must live within the court’s jurisdiction, one of whom should be an Executive member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) where the lawyer is registered.
Mayana further ordered that the sureties must provide valid means of identification and their addresses be verified by a police officer from the Asokoro Police Division.
The judge then adjourned the case until Feb. 9 for mention.
