Police charge guard, carrier with stealing N2m shoes

Tinubu Magistrate’s Court

The police in Lagos have arrested a security guard manning a plaza on Balogun Street, Lagos Island, Peter Ataro, and a load carrier, Asu Cusmars, for allegedly stealing pairs of shoes worth N2m.

It was said that the guard had connived with Cusmars and one Obi, who is still at large, to cart away the wares from a store in the plaza around 11pm on June 20.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Obi had approached 24-year-old Ataro on the fateful day to allow him pass the night at the plaza ─ a request to which he consented.

Our correspondent was told that while the guard was away, Cusmars came into the plaza.

He and Obi reportedly burgled a shop stocked with ladies’ shoes.

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It was gathered that Obi escaped from the scene with the stolen items.

However, 25-year-old Cusmars was not lucky, as a resident of the area alerted the police, leading to his arrest.

However, the guard, in his statement to the police, absolved himself of blame in the matter.

He said, “Obi and Asu (Cusmars) help traders here to carry their loads. Obi lives close to the plaza.

“He came to me that night and said the gate of the house, where he resides, had been locked.

“He begged me to allow him to sleep on the premises. I was on duty around the plaza when I was called that Obi and his friend had looted a store.”

But Cusmars reportedly owned up to the crime in his statement.

He told the police that was the second time the store would be looted, adding that he did not partake in the first operation.

The two suspects were brought before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on two counts of stealing by a police prosecutor, ASP Chidi Okoye.

The charges read, “That you, Peter Ataro, of Ajanlekoko Street, Kirikiri; Asu Cusmars, of Balogun Street, Lagos Island; and one other at large, between Saturday and Sunday June 21, 2015, at First Class Plaza 14/21, Balogun Street, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, and one other at large, on the same dates and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did break into the store of one Odo Ikechukwu, and steal lady shoes, valued at N2m, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 288 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty before the presiding magistrate, Miss. O.A. Awogboro.

They were admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each in like sum.

Awogboro adjourned the case till July20, 2015.