#20,000 was granted as bail for bus conductor for stealing of sachet powder milk

Kokoye said that the accused stole a sachet of powdered milk, valued at N700 and N200 cash from a trader, Esther Agbenyo.

A 25-year-old bus conductor, Okechukwu Nwafor, who allegedly stole a sachet of powdered milk, was on Friday admitted to bail in the sum of N20,000 by an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, who gave the ruling, granted the accused one surety as part of the bail conditions.

Etti said that the surety must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The accused, whose address is unknown, however, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 18, at Satellite Town, Lagos.

Kokoye said that the accused stole a sachet of powdered milk, valued at N700 and N200 cash from a trader, Esther Agbenyo.

The prosecutor said that when the accused noticed that Agbenyo had a lot of customers in front of her, he quickly took a sachet of powdered milk and N200 cash that were on the table.

Kokoye said Nwafor was about to bolt away, when one of Agbenyo’s customers, who saw the accused stealing the milk, raised an alarm.

The prosecutor said that the accused was apprehended by the trader’s customers, who were at the scene of the incident.

Kokoye said that Agbenyo reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.

He said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing.

The case was adjourned until April 12 for trial.