The police on Wednesday charged a 65-year-old man, Odumuyiwa Femi, before the Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for stealing an iron gate worth N100,000.

Mr Femi is facing a two-count charge of stealing and causing damage.

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

The prosecutor, E.O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the offences sometime in 2025, at about 10:00 a.m. at Itele-Awori, Ota.

He alleged that the defendant conspired with others to steal the iron gate and also damaged the gate in the process of trying to remove it.

The prosecution said that the offences contravene the provisions of sections 390(9) and 451 of the Criminal Law of Ogun, 2006.

The magistrate, O.O. Fadairo, granted the defendant bail of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

The court held that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ogun government.

The magistrate adjourned the case until February 25 for a hearing.

(NAN)