The Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 28-year-old man for allegedly breaking into a cemetery and stealing iron rods used to cover a corpse in a grave.

The defendant, Mubarak Kajola, whose residential address was not disclosed, was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on illegal trespass, stealing, and possessing firearms.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Funmi Akinleye, told the court that the defendant ”illegally, improperly and indecently” broke into the Ayobo Cemetery and interfered with dead bodies.

She said the defendant, on August 11, broke the slabs used in covering dead bodies and stole the iron rods which belonged to Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Area valued at N1.1 million.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant was armed with a plastic mock rifle.

Ms Akinleye said the offences contravened sections 165(b), 280(1), 287, 312 and 312(a)(b).

The magistrate, Oyenike Fajana, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

She adjourned the case until August 17 for facts and sentencing. 

(NAN)