The police in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday arraigned four men, Umar Lawal, Useni Usman, Abbar Senkikami and Nuru Useni, for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing goods worth N2.6 million.

The defendants—Lawal, 18, Usman, 25, Senkikami, 25, and Useni, 25—are facing a four-count charge bordering on housebreaking and stealing before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on September 5, and September 7 at 2:30 a.m. at No. 3, Irona St., Ado-Ekiti.

He said that the defendants broke into the house of the complainant, one Obebe Michael, and stole property valued at N2.6 million.

Mr Oriyomi said that the defendants stole electric wire and a distribution board valued at N500,000.

“Other property stolen include a mattress worth N80,000, a gas cooker with cylinder valued at N450,000, a Hiace refrigerator valued at N900,000, and an iron bar valued at N50,000.

“Also, they maliciously damaged the roof ceiling, glass door, net and distribution box with a house wire ring valued at N1.5 million,” Mr Oriyomi said.

According to him, the total value of the property stolen was N2.6 million, belonging to the complainant.

He added that one of the defendants, Mr Useni, had in his possession a 6 kg gas cylinder suspected to have been stolen.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 322, 302, 354 and 345 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses.

While the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them, their counsel, Opeyemi Esan, urged the court to grant the defendants bail with a promise that they would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, in his ruling, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until October 15 for hearing.

(NAN)