Mother, son accused of N122m theft granted N100m bail

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday granted N100m bail to a mother, Lola Disu and her son, Ahmed Disu, who were arraigned last week for allegedly stealing property worth N122m.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro had remanded the mother and son in Kirikiri prison pending the hearing of their bail application.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the defendants’ counsel, Solomon Ojo, moved the bail application dated May 17, 2024, urging the court to grant bail on the most liberal terms.

Although the police prosecutor, N.W. Uhua, opposed the bail application, Justice Awogboro granted the duo bail in the sum of N50m each with two sureties each in like sum.

“One of the sureties must be a director in the Federal Civil Service, while the other must be a landed property owner in Lagos, and must deposit the property’s original title with the court,” the judge ordered.

The defendants and their sureties must deposit their passports with the court.

The judge adjourned the commencement of the trial to June 7, 2024.

The police had arraigned Lola, Ahmed, and others at large on 14 counts, alleging that on June 25, 2021, at No 16 Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Mangoro Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos, they conspired to steal property worth over N122m belonging to Uccas Resources Ltd, represented by its Managing Director, Ukata Christian.

The charges also include allegations of forging a court order with the inscription “possession taken by court order on June 25, 2021,” intended to be used against Uccas Resources Ltd and its Managing Director.

The stolen items from the company’s office reportedly included computers, office chairs and tables, air conditioners, printers, scanners, copiers, industrial water filters, heaps of undistributed copies of Cargo News publication, confidential documents, midgets, internet routers, a 2.9kva generator, and fans.

Lola Muniratu Disu and Ahmed Olasunkanmi Disu were accused  of stealing office properties of the Reception Desk: (a) reception tables with drawers valued at N650,000, reception chairs valued at N71,000, Computer, monitor and printer; all HP Pavilion Tower Computers) (10th generation Intel Core i7, 1.8GHz): dual storage drive 256GB valued N861,000,  HP 5 in 1 printer, scanner and copier valued N73,000, Intercom connected to all offices: receiver valued N5,000 (f) office main line 012916425 (with handset) valued N45,000.00 (g) visitors memo booklet valued N700.00, total value of properties amount to N1,705,700.00, property of Uccas Resources Ltd, represented by Ukata Christian, the MD/CEO.”

The offences are punishable under Sections 390 (8)(c) & (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).

When the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty