A 28-year-old-man, Adebayo Julius Akanbi, has been handed over to the police after being caught stealing bags, phones and money belonging to students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.
While the students of the school were busy writing the semester examination at the FFS Hall on the campus, Akanbi was said to have sneaked to the back of the hall where students usually dropped their bags and phones and carted some of the items away.
Some students who had already finished their examination and were waiting for their colleagues were said to have sighted Akanbi while making away with the stolen items.
The students allegedly confronted the suspect and queried him on why he took the bags. According to eyewitnesses, he initially claimed that he was one of the students and that he owned the bags.
“But, after he was asked to prove his studentship by showing his school identity card, the man (Akanbi) started pleading for forgiveness and confessed that he stole them. He was reported to have been beaten by angry students close to the exam hall.
“The students whose bags were stolen later identified their properties. The items were released to them after showing proof of ownership.
The students later handed Akanbi over at the police station in Ede.
After investigation, the suspect was arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Ede over an allegation of stealing of bags containing assorted telephone sets and cash belonging to the students of the polytechnic.
Police prosecutor, Inspector A. Asanbe, informed the court that the incident happened on April 11, at about 9am at the Federal Polytechnic Campus, Ede.
The charge brought against him read that “Adebayo Julius Akanbi, at the same date and time, did entre FFS Hall with intent to commit felony therein without being a student of the school and stole a handbag containing one Infinix Hot 8, valued at N95, 000 property of one Odebiyi Temitope.
“You (defendant) did steal a bag containing Techno Pop 3, valued at N30, 000 property of one Ajibola Olayemi Margaret. You did steal a bag containing one iPhone 6 valued at N45,000, and one Techno phone valued at N6,000 properties of one Olaleye Abiola Abigail.
“You did steal a bag containing iPhone valued at N120, 000 and Bootel phone valued at N4,500, with cash of N5,000 properties of one Taiwo Rebecca Damilola and Ajibola Olayemi Margaret.”
Asanbe said that the defendant committed offences contrary to sections 383(1), 412 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The defendant didn’t have legal representation. Magistrate I. R. Ladipo ordered that he should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Facility while the case was adjourned till April 26 for mention.
