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By Emmanuel Adeleke
A 37-year-old man, Nwafor Onyebuchi, has been arraigned by the police before a Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Badagry for allegedly stealing N21 million from a Catholic church.
Onyebuchi is facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and breach of public peace.
The prosecutor, Inspector Ayodele Adeosun, told the court on Tuesday that the defendant committed the offence on December 21, 2022, at Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Alaba, in Ojo area of the state.
He alleged that the defendant stole the money meant for the development of the church.
Adeosun explained that the defendant converted the money to his personal use.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant also conducted himself in a manner likely to breach the peace by stealing from the church.
According to the prosecutor, the offence committed contravened Sections 287, 168 and 307 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the chargea against him.
The Magistrate, T. A Popoola, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
Popoola ordered that one of the sureties must be a relation of the defendant, while both sureties should show evidence of three years of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the case till June 5, 2023 for hearing.