A 45-year-old man, Kunle Akinrodoye, on Wednesday, appeared before the Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo for stealing building materials worth N350,000.

The defendant is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Ayodeji Omoyeigha, told the court that the defendant and one other accused at large committed the offence on January 2, at about 1:30 p.m., at an uncompleted building along Okitipupa-Erinje Road in Okitipupa.

Mr Omoyeigha alleged that the defendant conspired to steal iron rods, plastic pipes and bags of cement worth N350,000 belonging to the complainant, Olayemi Omowole. He said that he was eventually arrested by the police.

The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.

The chief magistrate, Mayowa Olanipekun, granted the defendant bail of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and present evidence of two years of tax payments made to the state government.

He adjourned the case until March 27 for further hearing.

(NAN)