Hon Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the remand of two siblings, Abubakar Aliyu and Abdullahi Aliyu, at a correctional facility over the alleged theft of goods valued at N35m belonging to their elder brother.
The defendants were arraigned on Wednesday by the police on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
When the charge marked ID/268/2C/2026 was called, the prosecution counsel, SP Umar Bello, announced his appearance, while Mr P.O. Ohikhena appeared for the defendants.
Mr Roland Deji held a watching brief for the nominal complainant.
Urging the court to proceed with the arraignment, Bello said, “My Lord, the matter is for arraignment. We are ready to proceed and we urge the court to allow the defendants to take their plea.”
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 at the departure wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to commit the offences.
“The defendants, sometime in 2020, at the departure wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, conspired among themselves to steal bags, necklaces, jewellery, male and female clothes and shoes valued at N35m,” Bello said.
He added, “The stolen properties belong to their elder brother, Alhaji Rabiu Aliyu, and the defendants converted the proceeds to their personal use.”
Bello further alleged that the defendants denied the complainant access to his shop at the airport, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
“Their actions were likely to cause a breach of peace as they prevented the complainant from accessing his shop,” he told the court.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravene Sections 411, 313, 314, 168(d) and 365(3)(e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, Bello asked the court for a trial date and sought their remand pending the filing of any bail application.
“My lord, in view of their plea, we ask for a trial date and urge the court to remand the defendants at the Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail application,” he said.
Defence counsel, Ohikhena, did not move any bail application.
In her ruling, Justice Dada held, “The defendants are hereby remanded at the correctional centre pending the filing and hearing of their bail application.”
The court adjourned the matter to April 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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