UNIBEN chief security officer arraigned for alleged stealing

The Chief Security Officer of the University of Benin, Edo State, Umar Otokiti, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ekiadolor Magistrates’ Court for alleged stealing. Otokiti, 62, and one Osayande Osaro were arraigned on three counts bordering on stealing.

They were alleged to have broken into the residence of one Dr. Emmanuel Irabor, a lecturer in the institution, on November 14, 2014..

The accused were alleged to have carted away property worth N27m from Irabor’s residence in the staff quarters of the university. The offences were said to be punishable under sections 516, 411(1), and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48, Vol. II, Law of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.

The charges read in part, “That you, Umar Otokiti, Osayande Osaro and others now at large, on the same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal household property valued at N27,170,100 only belonging to one Dr. Emmanuel Irabor.”

But the accused pleaded not guilty. The presiding magistrate, Franca Oghator, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 each with a surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till February 20, 2016.