A 40-year-old trader, Sani Zubairu, was on Wednesday arraigned in a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court accused of stealing six bags of rice.
Zubairu, who resides at Kano Road in Kaduna, is facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Oct. 12, at Kawo Market, Kaduna.
“On the same date at about 2:00 p.m., the complainant, Mamoud Ali, asked the defendant to help him look after his shop while he went to the bank.
“But while the complainant was away, the defendant conspired with two others now at large and stole six bags of rice valued at N252,000 from the shop,” the prosecutor told the court.
According to him, the offence contravened sections 234 and 271 of the Kaduna State Penal Code 2017.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must have evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.
The Magistrate adjourned the case till Nov. 16, for hearing.