A community leader and two others on Friday appeared before an Owode Egba Chief Magistrates' Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing a bunch of plantain valued at N2,000.

Police prosecutor Evidence Oyenkaobi told the court that the accused, Jimoh Adebayo, 50; Wahab Ayenreti, 70; and Suraju Ayenreti, 35, committed the alleged offence on Dec. 31, 2012.

Oyenkaobi said the accused at about 9 p.m. at Imedu-Nla Village, Mowe in Owode Egba, jumped into the compound of Jubilee Baptist Church and stole the bunch of plantain.

``The community leader (Adebayo) and his accomplice jumped into the compound of the church, cut the bunch of plantain and were carting it away when they were caught.

``They were sighted by the pastor of the church, who was threatened and chased away with a cutlass by the third accused to prevent him from raising alarm," he said.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 390 (9) and 86 (2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and threat to life, were represented by their counsel, Mr Ade Agbolade.

Agbolade applied for bail for his clients, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Emanuel Adekunte granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case to March 21, for further hearing in the matter. (NAN)

Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on Thursday described the ongoing merger talks among the nation’s frontline opposition parties as normal, noting that alignments and realignments were simple political intercourse expected in eve...

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, Alhaji Salisu Mahmud, has exonerated the state government and the party from having any hand in the recent Lamido /Amechi for president and vice president campaign vehicle sighted in K...

Two former governors of old Kaduna State and elder statesmen, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and Alhaji Balarabe Musa yesterday applauded the formation of  the  All Progressives Congress (APC), even as they warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ...

Senators from the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday stated that the new political party will salvage the political, social and economic situation in Nigeria with a view to rescuing the country from its present rot and corruption. L...

A white cap Chief and member of the Lagos Traditional Council, Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole,  was allegedly shot dead by suspected assassins on Thursday.      The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko,  who confirmed ...

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday remanded 11 fishermen on a four-count charge of conspiracy, theft, unlawful possession of petroleum products and vandalism of pipeline belonging to the NNPC. The accused are Sidi Egbayelo, 29; Sunday Shadrach, ...

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau on Thursday decried the bad condition of the state secretariat complex and promised to renovate it before 2015. Jang, who inspected on-going work on some blocks under renovation, expressed concern over the ``bad condition of ...

A Benin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded two persons, Courage Eholor-Igwe, 27 and Efe Ogaga, 19, for allegedly stealing two children. The accused were arraigned for ``alleged conspiracy and stealing of two children”. The News Agency ...

Mr Fola Daniel, the Commissioner for Insurance, on Thursday, commended the local insurance industry on the payment of claims to families of victims of the crashed Dana Airline. Dainel, who gave the commendation in Ilorin at a seminar for finance and bu...

The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), has offered skills training to 405 youths as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Its Managing Director, Mr Bolanle Ayodele said on Thursday in Kaduna that the beneficiaries were trained under the company's Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programme, started in 2008.

He said at the presentation of certificates to 105 participants of the 2012 programme, that the company had set up a grant with a micro finance bank in Kaduna to be accessed by any of those trained to establish their own businesses.

Ayodele explained that the partnership with the bank was due to the ``low success rate'' recorded in assisting those who graduated earlier.

The managing director expressed appreciation to the host communities for providing ``harmonious and peaceful environment'' for the company's operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants acquired skills in 10 trades, including construction, poultry and fisheries.

In his speech, Gov. Mukhtar Yero commended the KRPC for its support in addressing the unemployment challenges in the state, and pledged to tap its experience in the implementation of similar programmes by the state government.

Dr Paul Orhii, Director-General (D-G), National Agency for Food, Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday said the agency would rid Nigeria of unwholesome and substandard products. Orhii also gave an assurance that the agency would remain ...