A Chief Magistrate Court Yaba, Lagos, has adjourned till July 28, 2025 further trial of two men, Lawrence Ogbechie aged, 60, and Arinze Umeh Chinonso aged, 43 who are currently facing trial over alleged stealing of three Lexus cars worth N37, 500,000.
When the matter came up for trial, the prosecutor, Rita Momah (DSP) announced her appearance and informed the court that the business of the day was for the commencement of the trial of two defendants, counsel to the defendant, in her submission informed the court that the prosecution is yet to serve her with proof of evidence which is necessary for for the defence of her clients.
Consequent upon the development the presiding magistrate ,Mrs E. Kubeinje adjourned further trial till July 28, 2025 and ordered the prosecutor to ensure service of relevant processes that would enable the defendants to prepare their defence.
It would be recalled that the police had in February this year arraigned the two defendants, Lawrence Ogbechie aged, 60, and Arinze Umeh Chinonso aged 43 for alleged stealing of three Lexux cars worth N37, 500,000.
According to the five count- charge number A/09/2025 filed by men of the Police Legal Unit, Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, Lawrence Ogbechie and Arinze Umeh Chinonso were alleged to have on the 27th of January 2024 at Ijesa Market area, Lagos did conspired between themselves to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal code laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The duo were also alleged to have at the same date, time and place in the Magisterial District, did steal three Lexus ES 350 Car 2008 model valued at Twelve Million, total value N37 500,000 property of Nnochiri Sunday and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 280 of criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
At the commencement of trial in February this year, the prosecutor Rita Momah (DSP) informed the trial magistrate that the prosecution has a five count- charge pending before the court and urge the court to order that the charge be read so that the defendants can take their pleas.
The charge was then read and the defendants pleaded not guilty to same.
Following Ogbechie and Chinonso pleas of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand them in custody pending trial.
However, counsel to the defendants informed the court that she has an application for the bail of the defendants which she consequently moved.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Mrs E. Kubeinje granted bail to the two defendants in the sum of N5million each with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not bellow grade level 14 in the service of the Lagos state government or the Federal Government, while the second surety must be a property owner within Lagos State with both house and office addresses of the sureties to be verified by the Registrar of the court.
The court also ordered that both sureties must produce three years Tax Clearance Certificate and deposit two passport photographs each to the court Registrar.
She then adjourned the matter till March 24,2025.
However, the matter could not go as schedule in March consequent upon which that matter was adjourned till today.
The charge against the defendants reads:
That you Lawrence Ogbechie ‘M’, Arinze Umeh Chinoso ‘m’, on 27″ January, 2024 at about 1000hrs at Ijesa, Market area Lagos In the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal cede laws of Lagos State 2015.
That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO °M’, at the sane date time and place in Magisterial District, did steel 3 Lexus ES 350 Car 2008 mode! value Twelve Million, Five Hundres Thousand (N12 500,000) each total value (N37 500,000) Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira property of Nnochir Sunday and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 280 of criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘’M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district did steal 3 Lexus car 2008 model valued N12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each total value Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira entrusted to you for clearing by one NNOCHIRI SUNDAY thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 247(9b) of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE °M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did stea! 3 Lexus car 2008 model valued N12,900,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each total value Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N37,590,000) at the point of offoading it from container that brought the car from oversea and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 287(5b) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal 3 Lexus car 2008 model valued N12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each total value Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N37,500,000) property of one Sunday Nnochiri and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 287 (10) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
