The police on Wednesday arraigned a 24-year-old labourer, Shedrack Jeremiah, in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, over alleged theft of a sewing machine.

The police charged Jeremiah with criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property.

The prosecuting counsel, Simpa Ibrahim, told the court that one Henry Francis reported the matter at Mpape Police Station in Abuja on June 18.

Mr Ibrahim also told the court that Jeremiah allegedly went to Francis’s house at Mpape, Abuja, and stole a sewing machine valued at N250,000, a six-kg gas cylinder valued at N30,000 and one rug.

He added that the defendant sold the sewing machine to one Abdullahi Usman, currently at large, and sold the cylinder and the rug to an unknown person.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.

However, Jeremiah pleaded not guilty and the Defence Counsel, Helen Okpala, made a bail application for the defendant, citing sections 36(5) of the 1999 constitution, 158,162 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Ms Okpala said that if granted, the defendant would not jump bail nor jeopardise investigations, adding that he had a reliable surety.

The Magistrate, Hafsat Amiru, admitted the defendant to N300,000 bail with two sureties who must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

Ms Amiru added that the sureties must produce means of identification and current utility bill and adjourned the matter until July 21 for hearing.

(NAN)