A 32-year-old man, Samuel Afuape, on Monday appeared before an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into the house of Mr Akanni Fatai and stole valuable items worth N50,500.

The accused of No 18, Oni St., Iyana Iyesi in Ota, Ogun, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and burglary.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulakareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused and others still at large committed the offences on June 21 at about 1.00 a.m., at Faluyi Close, Iju, Ota. Mustapha said that the accused and his accomplices conspired to break into the house of Fatai.

“They stole an I-Tel cell phone worth N43,000, a rechargeable touch light worth N5,000 and a watch worth N2,500, all totaling N50,500,’’ he said. According to him, the offences contravened Sections 319(6), 411 and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The chief magistrate, Mrs A.I. Adelaja, granted a N500,000 bail to the accused with two sureties in like sum. Adelaja said that the sureties must be community leaders within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed.

She also ordered that the sureties should swear to an affidavit of means and produce evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State Government.

In addition, the magistrate said that the sureties should submit four-passport photographs to the court and their addresses should be verified by the police.

She adjourned the case till Aug. 2 for hearing.