57-year-old man in remand for stealing mosquito net

A 57-year-old man, Lawrence Isidor, has been remanded for two weeks after he was alleged to have stolen a mosquito net belonging to one Mrs. Gracious Odo, a resident on Marble Street, Happy Land Estate in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that the defendant slapped the woman when she accused him of stealing the net.

The defendant was on August 11, arraigned by the police before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court , on two counts of stealing and assault -─ to which he pleaded not guilty.

The charges read, “That you, Lawrence Isido,r on August 10, 2014 at about 2pm on Marble Street, Happy Land Estate, Ajah, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal one mosquito net value N800, property of Gracious Odo and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 (5) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

“That you did unlawfully assault her by slapping her face and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

As of Wednesday when the matter was called for hearing, It was gathered that no surety had shown up to perfect the N5,000 bail condition levied by the magistrate, Mr. T.A. Owolabi.

The prosecutor pleaded that the complainant was not in court due to ill health ─ an excuse Owolabi frowned on, noting that the defendant was being made to suffer.

When asked what he wanted the court to do for him, the accused, who had no defense counsel, fell on his knees and pleaded the magistrate to discard the case.

“My lord, please, I want the case to be struck out,” he pleaded.

Owolabi, instructed the prosecutor to meet with the complainant before the next adjournment date which was slated for Monday, September 1, 2014.

“I reluctantly accede to the prosecutor’s plea that the complainant is sick. The court shall not hesitate to take the necessary steps if the prosecutor cannot produce the woman in court and establish the veracity of her sickness by Monday,” he said.

PUNCH