A 23-year-old suspect, Opeyemi Adeleke, who allegedly stole a woman’s pants, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The suspect, who was sober in court, admitted to stealing the pants but claimed that he returned them after about five minutes, because his conscience did not allow him to rest.
Adeleke, it was learnt, went to the house of one Gift Sunday located in the Agowande area of Osogbo around 1am and stole her pants, which were left to dry on the line outside.
The two counts of stealing preferred against the suspect read in part, “That you, Opeyemi Adeleke, on Monday, January 21, 2019, around 1am in the Agowande area of Osogbo seized the pants of one Gift Sunday without her consent and for reasons best known to you.”
The prosecutor, Inspector Muslim Jafani, said the accused took the pants away, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 249 (D) and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34. Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
When allowed to talk, the suspect admitted to stealing the pants but added that he returned them after five minutes.
“I actually stole the pants, but within five minutes, I returned them. Please pardon me,” Adeleke said.
After pleading guilty to the charges, the defence counsel, Mrs Susan Ajeigbe, pleaded for Adeleke’s bail and promised to always present him for trial.
The presiding magistrate, Modupe Awodele, in her ruling, ordered that the accused be remanded in the Ilesha Prison and adjourned the case till February 2, 2019, for ruling on the bail application.
