Young Police Trainee Charged for Theft.


A 24-year old Mr. Adeoye, a native of Tapa, Ibarapa Area of Oyo State Nigeria was fortunate to be selected to protect the country when he got admission to the Police Training School, Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan in May 2018. He was expected to become a promising Police Officer, but now his career to eventually become a police officer is at stake because he was caught after he had allegedly stolen the money of his fellow Police Trainee at the Police Training School, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Mr. Adeoye was charged before the Chief Magistrate Court holding under His Honour; Chief Magistrate M.A. Amole on the 26th day of July 2018 at Iyaganku, Ibadan. Adeoye is facing of one count charge that: on the 12th July, 2018 at about 2pm at Police Training School, Eleyele, Headquarter, Ibadan in Ibadan Magisterial district did steal a cash sum of N8,550 and one black trouser valued N1,500 all totaled N10,050 (US$27.91) only, being property of one Abdulkareem Kehinde and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria.

The accused person pleaded not guilty. The Prosecuting Police Officer, Mrs.Gbemi Adedeji stated the case that Adeoye initially borrowed N1,000 from Abdulkareem Kehinde which he had not paid until that day. But on the 12th day of July, 2018, Adeoye refused to go for Mustard Parade (Assembly) and as soon as others came back from the Mustard Parade, Adeoye went to his lender – Mr. Abdulkareem and paid back the N1,000 he owed. When Abdulkareem asked Adeoye where he got the money, Adeoye told him that it was a senior Trainee that gave him.

Later in the day, Abdulkareem discovered that he could not find his trouser in which he kept N8,550 (US$23.75) in the hostel. Abdulkareem quietly went to the senior Trainee to confirm whether Adeoye was given any money but the senior officer trainee denied it. Then, Abdulkareem summoned his courage to suspect and challenge Adeoye. Based on suspicion, Abdulkareem reported to the School Authority and Adeoye was summoned. He was alleged to have later confessed that he really took the money and threw the trouser away. A sum of N5,000 was recovered from Adeoye because he has spent part of the money to buy a pair of white tennis shoe and filled his belly with delicious food and sweet drinks.

He was arrested and charged to court for prosecution. At the court, his counse pleaded to the Magistrate to bail his client of which the prosecutor did not raise any objection. The Chief Magistrate M.A. Amole granted Mr. M. Adeoye bail of N5,000 (US$13.8) with a surety of a blood relation; the surety must have valid Identity card and the residence of the surety must be verified by the prosecutor. The case was adjourned to the 10th day of August 2018 for definite hearing.

While responding to a question asked by the Public Times Newspaper Correspondent about the likely outcome of Adeoye’s fate, the prosecuting Police Officer – Temitope Daudu replied that Adeoye should forget about going back to the Police Training School because what he did; penalty is automatic dismissal from the School and secondly the punishment for such charge before the law is 3 years imprisonment but for now, let us leave it to the discretion of the Judge.

By Ademola Oladele

PublicTimes http://publictimes.com.ng ISSN 2250-9259

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.