A 32-year-old iron bender, Joshua Amonasi, was, on Friday, arraigned before the Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing soft drinks and groundnut oil.

The police charged Mr Amonasi of Dakwa, Abuja, with criminal intimidation and theft.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Chinedu Ogada, told the court that the complainant, Rehinatu Ayuba, reported the matter at Zuba Police Station on February 19.

Mr Ogada said the defendant broke into the complainant’s shop and stole two gallons of palm oil valued at N48,000, one gallon of groundnut oil valued at N32,200 and three packs of soft drinks worth N9,000.

He said that when the defendant was arrested, he threatened to deal with the complainant in the presence of a police officer from the station.

The prosecutor said the offences contravene sections 287 of the Penal Code.

The judge, Saminu Suleiman, admitted the defendant to N200,000 bail with one surety, who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and provide a means of identification.

Mr Suleiman adjourned the case till March 19 for a hearing.

(NAN)