‘Good Samaritan’ docked for stealing from victims

LAGOS— Police in Lagos, yesterday, arraigned a 32-year-old unemployed man, Bartholomew Mbatuonu, before an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing the property of an accident victim, who later died.

The prosecutor, John Iberedem, told the court that Mbatuonu stole three bags containing various women clothes, shoes and cash totalling N200,000 belonging to Mrs Georgina Chijioke , who was involved in a bus accident around Maza- Maza on Lagos-Badagry expressway on July 2.
Iberedem said the accused pretended as if he was helping the accident victims and in the process stole the bags.

He said Mbatuonu, of no fixed address, was facing a one-count charge of stealing.
The prosecutor said that the accused was caught with the three bags, by a ‘Good Samaritan‘ who was also helping the victims.

Mbatuonu pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Chief Magistrate, E.A. Ogundare, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum.
He also ordered the surety to show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, as part of the bail conditions.

Ogundare adjourned the case to October 12 for further hearing.

source: vanguard