By Agency Report
A 44-year-old herdsman, Nurudeen Disu, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, charged with allegedly stealing 33 cows valued at N20 million from his employer.
The defendant, residing in Anthony Village, Lagos State, pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of theft.
The prosecutor, Inspector Bassey Sunday, addressing the court, stated that the defendant committed the offense between 2019 and 2023 behind the Newcastle Hotel in Anthony Village. He alleged that the defendant conspired with others in the theft.
Inspector Sunday further explained that the 33 cows stolen by the defendant belonged to the complainant, Mr. Bashura Alebiosu.
He recounted, “The complainant entrusted a total of 50 cows, valued at N20 million, to his political protege, Ibrahim Mustapha, of Oseni Street, Anthony Village, who later hired Disu (the defendant) to care for them.”
“However,” Sunday continued, “Otunba Bashura recently went to collect the cows but discovered that the defendant had stolen 33 out of the 50 cows under his care. The defendant could not provide a satisfactory account of the missing cows.”
Sunday pointed out that this offense violated Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs. O. A. Daodu, granted the defendant bail in the amount of N2 million, with two sureties required to provide the same sum. She stipulated that one of the sureties must be a prominent Hausa leader in Lagos State, while the other must be a religious leader.
The case was adjourned until November 6 for trial.