Drama In Magistrate Court As Complainant Opposes Bail Of Suspected Burglars By Former Prisoner

...Magistrate Grants Them Bail, Adjourns Case Till March 7, 2025 

...Says One of two sureties must be a traditional ruler or serving local government councillor who must produce three years tax clearance and resident within the jurisdiction of the court

There was drama at an Enugu Magistrate Court on Tuesday, when a complainant in a case of burglary against two young men objected to the release of the suspects on bail to a man whom the complainant accused of being their godfather.
The incident occurred at the Enugu Ezike Magistrate, when one Dominic Alih appeared to take the accused persons on bail. 
The complainant, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, and immediate past President of Imufu Town Union, Lawrence Mamah, raised objections, informing the court that Alih had earlier served prison terms alongside one of the accused persons and had been aiding and abetting them in their criminal activities. 
The accused persons, Onukwube Eze, from Ufodo, Enugu Ezike and  Ifeanyi Onu, from Umuogbo Ulo, both aged 22 years are facing three- count of  conspiracy and burgling four shops and looting items valued at several thousands of Naira before the court presided over by Magistrate Adukwu.
The charges read, "That you Onukwube Eze and Ifeanyi Onu, on the 28th day of January 2025, at Imufu Enugu Ezike in the Igbo Eze North Magisterial District, did unlawfully conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: store breaking and stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30 Vol. 11 Revised Laws of Enugu State, Nigeria 2004.
"Count 2: That you, Onukwube Eze and Ifeanyi Onu, on the same date, place, and time in the aforementioned Magisterial District,  of Igbo Eze North  LGA, did unlawfully, break and entre into a shop, belonging to one Chinyere Ogbu,  and several other shops across Enugu Ezike, and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section  380B of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11, Revised Laws of Enugu State, Nigeria 2004.
"Count 3: That you, Onukwube Eze and Ifeanyi Onu, on the same place, date and time,  in the aforementioned Magisterial District of Igbo Eze North LGA, did unlawfully steal the following items, 30 litres of red oil valued  N60,000,  2 painters of rice valued N12,000; four painters of beans valued N16,000; one crate of Coca-Cola  and one piece valued at  N6,000; 2 Cartons of Indomie at N26,000; one carton of Tummy Tummy valued  at N14,000; some numbers of tablet soaps valued at N11,200; one role of cigarettes and four pieces- value unknown, some balls of onions and  crayfish- value unknown; some nunber of  tin tomatoes valued N17,000; half crate of malt drinks valued N7000; seven pieces of peak milk powder valued N7,000....;  and items yet to be known, property of one Chinyere Ogbu and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 353(L) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11 Revised Laws of Enugu State, Nigeria 2004.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty after they were arraigned and the charges read to them..
In his ruling, Magistrate Adukwu the accused persons bail with two suretees each, who must swear to affidavits of means and must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
The sureties must also, produce tax clearance certificates for three years even as one of them must be a traditional ruler of their community or a serving local government councillor and adjourned the case till March 7, 2025, for mention.