Man breaks into Ekiti monarch’s palace, steals bags of rice

A 22-year-old man, Adebanji Elijah, was on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing and willful damage of a traditional ruler’s palace. Elijah, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and willful damage. The police prosecutor, Insp Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendant and others […]

A 22-year-old man, Adebanji Elijah, was on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing and willful damage of a traditional ruler’s palace.

Elijah, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and willful damage.

The police prosecutor, Insp Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offences on Aug. 10, 2022 at about 4pm in Ire-Ekiti.

Adeniyi alleged that the defendant and others at large stole pieces of jewellery, a bag of rice and a cylinder, all valued at N2 million, belonging to Oba Bobade Adeleke, the Onire of Ire-Ekiti.

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He alleged that the defendant and others at large willfully damaged the palace of the complainant, and the offences contravened sections 302(1) (a) and 363 of the criminal law of Ekiti State 2021.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Busuyi Ayorinde, urged the court to grant his client bail, promising that he would show up whenever the case came up.

The Magistrate, Mrs Dolapo Kay-Williams, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Kay-Williams said that the sureties must be responsible persons in the community and adjourned the case until March 6 for a hearing.(NAN)