Six Arraigned For Stealing Toyin Abraham’s Film ‘Malaika’
Kemisola Oye
SIX persons have been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly stealing a film produced by a popular actress, Toyin Abraham
The defendants namely: Iyanda Kehinde Oseni, Adekunle Segun, Adebiyi Sodiq, Agboola Sadiat Motunrayo, Adebiyi Suliat and Oseni S. Akano were arraigned by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
They were arraigned before Chief Magistrate E.O Ogunkanmi on four counts charge marked no A/3/200 filed against them by the Police for stealing film worth Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00).
The prosecution counsel, Mr Moruf Animashaun, a Legal Officer from the office of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Close, told the court that the defendants sometime in January 2024 at Apapa, Lagos State, conspired amongst themselves to commit a felony: to wit -stealing and attempting to pervert justice.
He said they unlawfully stole a film titled “Malaika” on the internet, the property of Toyin Abraham worth Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00).
“The defendants conspired among themselves to commit a felony to wit stealing. Also, the defendants attempted to pervert justice, concealing the HP Computers used for unlawfully disseminating a film titled “Malaika” on a particular link.”
Mr Animashaun also told the court that the fourth defendant, Motunrayo, sometime in January 2024 constantly communicated with Akano to avoid being arrested.
He said their offence was contrary to the provision of sections 411, 287 and 97 of the Criminal Law Ch.C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Part of the charge read, “That you Iyanda Kehinde Oseni ‘M’, Adekumle Segun ‘M’, Adebiyi Sodiq ‘M’, Oseni S. Akano (M), Agnoola Motunrayo ‘F’ and Adeniyi Suliat ‘F’ sometime in January 2024 at Apapa, Lagos State in the Igbosere Magisterial district, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 97 of the Criminal Law Ch.C17 Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
“That you Agboola Sadiat Motunrayo ‘F’ sometime in January 2024 at Apapa, Lagos State in the Igbosere Magisterial district, knowing that one Oseni Sodiq Akano has committed an offence, constantly communicate with him to avoid being arrested and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 415 of the Criminal Law Ch.C17 Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.”
However, following their plea of not guilty to all the counts charge, Mr Animashaun prayed the court for a trial date.
But the defendants’ counsel, Mr. Ganiyu Oyarevuegbe prayed the court to grant the defendants bail in liberal terms.
The Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi thereafter admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of Five Million Naira each (N5,000,000.00) with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi ordered that one of the sureties must not be a civil servant from the Ministry of Education. The surety must provide a letter of release from the Head of Service (HOS) and the second surety must be a blood relation of the defendant.
He subsequently adjourned to 23 February 2024 for mention.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
