A Prosecution Witness, Insp Ayo Ajayi, on Monday told a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, that exhibits in the trial of five persons charged with burglary had been eaten by rats.
The accused – Simon Friday, 24; Emmanuel Obasi, 26; Stephen Ogbuechi, 27; and Efosa Kadiri, 25, – were arraigned on Jan. 3, 2013, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were alleged to have broken into the media centre of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, and stolen some goods.
However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
NAN reports that the exhibits were items recovered from the accused after their arrest.
They included a bag of rice and 16 gallons of groundnut oil, all valued at N39,300.
Ajayi, the Investigating Police Officer, in the case, said that the exhibits, which were perishable items, had been in police custody since the arraignment of the accused.
He said that the exhibits later disappeared from the exhibit room.
According to him, during police investigation, it was discovered that the accused gained access into the media centre through the roof.
During the arraignment, the Prosecutor, Insp. Gabriel Ekundayo, told the court that the accused broke into the media centre on Christmas Day in 2012 and stole the goods.
Ekundayo said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 307 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The Magistrate, Mrs. Mobolaji Olajuwon, adjourned the case to June 26 for further hearing. (NAN)
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