Wife in court for allegedly stealing from estranged husband

Ronke Abiola, 40, on Tuesday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos charged with stealing N100,000 and N2.3 million worth of items from her estranged husband.

Ronke, who resides at No.15, Z.A William Road, Kay Farms Estate, Iju in Lagos, is facing four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, stealing and threat to life.

The prosecutor, Insp Owolabi Akinlolu, told the court that the crime was committed on May.26, 2013, at the residence of the accused.

He said that the accused stole items, including laptop, wristwatches cash and N2.3million Toyota Highlander jeep, property of Mr Oladele Abiola, her estranged husband.

According to the prosecutor, after running away with the complainant’s property, the accused also threatened violence on him.

Akinlolu said the offences contravened sections 56, 285, 288 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 285 says that anyone who steals a property is guilty of a felony, and liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olatunbosun Abolarinwa, granted Ronke bail in the sum of N500,000  with two sureties in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Abolarinwa also said that the sureties must be resident in Lagos and show genuine means of livelihood and adjourned the case till Dec.18 for trial.