CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 25-year-old woman, Christiana Eno-Essein, has been arraigned before the Ikeja Magisterial District in Lagos over an alleged theft of Seventeen Million Naira (N17,000,000) belonging to one Bimbo Amedu.
The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola at Court 2, Ogba, on a two-count charge marked MIK/B/96/2026 – Commissioner of Police Vs Christiana Eno-Essein ‘F’, filed by the Divisional Police Officer, Isheri Police Station, Lagos State. The prosecution was led by ASP Lucky Ihehie.
The case was investigated by Inspector Oluwadare Temitope of the Isheri Police Station. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
According to the charge sheet presented before the court, the defendant and one other person who is still at large, were alleged to have on the 4th of August, 2026, at about 1400hrs, at No. 3, Farouq Abawabo Drive, Isheri North GRA, OPIC Estate, Lagos State, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, conspired between themselves to steal.
The alleged conspiracy is said to be contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
In the second count, the Police alleged that Christiana Eno-Essein and her alleged accomplice, who is currently at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, stole the sum of Seventeen Million Naira (N17,000,000), property of one Bimbo Amedu ‘F’.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The charge sheet was endorsed by the Divisional Police Officer, Isheri, Lagos.
When the charges were read to her in court, the 25-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following her plea, the prosecutor, ASP Lucky Ihehie, applied for a date for mention and trial, and urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. The court ordered that the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Magistrate further directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must present credible identification, with their addresses verified.
Pending the perfection of her bail conditions, the court ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri Town, Lagos.
The case was adjourned to a later date for mention, with the court directing that the case file be duplicated and a copy sent to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
According to Police sources, the matter was reported by the nominal complainant, Bimbo Amedu, who alleged that her money was stolen at the stated address by the defendant and one other person still at large. The Police said upon receipt of the complaint, investigation was commenced by the IPO, Inspector Oluwadare Temitope, which led to the arrest of the defendant and her subsequent arraignment before the court.
It is important to emphasize that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. All allegations contained in the charge sheet are yet to be proved, and the court has not made any pronouncement on the guilt or otherwise of the defendant. The charges remain mere allegations and trial is yet to commence.